Thursday, October 8, 2009

Technology Summit Tuesday at VWCC


Last year more than 230 high school juniors and seniors visited the Virginia Western Community College campus for the annual Technology Summit. This event offers students the opportunity to explore high growth, high pay career fields that may potentially lead to internships or employment upon graduation.

This year's event will offer many of the same great opportunities as last year including some exciting new twists--“green” energy technology along with health and environmental sciences and a preview of Virginia Western’s and Old Dominion University’s Baja competition vehicles.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Virginia Western will bring in over 25 technology-based organizations in the Roanoke area to showcase the array of opportunities that await students with an education in technology and engineering. The Technology Summit will run from 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“There remains a high demand for these jobs in the Roanoke Valley,” says Associate Professor of Engineering Rick Clark. “Not only is this an opportunity for students to find a calling, but it is also an opportunity for employers to find potential employees. The goal of this summit is to make sure the community is aware of the importance and need for qualified individuals to consider high growth, high wage majors and careers."

In addition to the employer displays and opportunities to interact with Virginia Western students, the 2009 Technology Summit and Career Exploration event will provide hands-on exposure at each of the technology stations located in the Advanced Technology Center.

Activities include a look at an off-road vehicle built and raced earlier this year by Virginia Western students, a robotics demonstration, a GIS demonstration to show the importance and benefits of Global Positioning Systems (GPS devices), and a look at Computer Aided Design (CAD), which allows designers the opportunity to develop virtual designs of products and test them before having to buy expensive raw materials.

The Technology Summit and Career Exploration Fair is an opportunity for business, industry and community partners to educate high school and community college students on the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful when they complete their education, especially in the area of technology and advanced technology.

For more information on the Technology Summit and Career Exploration Fair, contact Leah Coffman by phone or e-mail at 540.857.6678,

(Source: VWCC press release.)

1 comment:

  1. My son was disappointed to find out that his high school cancelled the trip. Apparently there wasn't "enough interest." Same thing happened to him last year when he was a junior. Too bad they don't hold this fair on a weekend when more students would be able to go.

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