2/23/2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin and First Lady Gayle Manchin today joined representatives with the Real World Design Challenge, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Marshall University’s June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development to announce that Awesome Aeronauts, a team of three students from Cabell Midland High School who represent the June Harless Center, won this year’s competition and will receive an all expense paid trip to the national competition in Washington this March. Teams across the nation will compete for prizes, awards, and recognition from leaders in government, industry and higher education.
In early January, the governor announced that West Virginia was chosen to take part in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Real World Design Challenge, a collaboration between education and business leaders, specifically the U.S. Department of Energy, FAA, NASA, and Parametric Technologies Corp. among others.
“I am very pleased that West Virginia is participating in the Real World Design Challenge,” Gov. Joe Manchin said. “This project is such a useful and effective tool because it allows students to use their own creativity and hone their skills, which will hopefully enhance their interest in the high technology jobs of the future.”
The first lady added, “We congratulate Cabell Midland’s Awesome Aeronauts and Coach Jenny Nash for winning this year’s Real World Design Challenge, and the governor and I thank all of the student teams that participated. Job well done!”
The challenge is designed to strengthen professional development for teachers through training and partnering with high technology industry representatives, while also providing students with access to valuable software to enhance learning and innovation.
“Through the challenge, all of West Virginia’s students will have access the best resources to enable them to build 21st Century Skills that will help to make West Virginia’s future workforce more competitive in a globally competitive economic environment” said Dr. Ralph K. Coppola, Director of the Real World Design Challenge & Director, Global Government & Strategic Education Programs.
West Virginia joined 24 other states in this initiative with local support provided by the NASA IV&V Facility Education Resource Center, The Department of Energy in Morgantown, and the June Harless Center. The project gives participating students more insight in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields, which will prepare them for the high technology-related occupations of the future.
"This competition puts a focus on project-based learning which is active, engaging and inspires students to strive for a deeper understanding of the subjects they're studying," said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine. "Research tells us that students are more likely to retain the knowledge gained through this approach far more readily than through traditional learning. This is the shift we must make in our classrooms if we are to transform our schools into 21st learning centers."
Contact Information
Sara Payne Scarbro
304-558-2000