October 1 Skills USA Kickoff with NCCER at NVCC Woodbridge Campus

Apprentice to CEO: Global trades advocate headlines NOVA’s SkillsUSA Kickoff

from https://www.nvcc.edu/about/news/press-releases/2026/NOVA-SKILLSUSA-KICKOFF.html

Keynote speaker Boyd Worsham traces his path from the job site to executive leadership, inspiring future craft professionals.

October 5, 2026

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Oct. 5, 2026 — Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) hosted its second annual SkillsUSA Kickoff on Oct. 1 at the Woodbridge Campus, positioning technical education at the heart of Northern Virginia’s economic expansion.

“Demand for skilled trades has never been higher, making SkillsUSA at NOVA essential for building tomorrow’s workforce leaders,” said keynote speaker Boyd Worsham, president and CEO of the National Center for Construction Education and Research, ahead of the event. “Starting as a carpenter apprentice right out of high school completely changed my life, proving the power of hands-on training and real mentorship. NOVA is connecting students directly with high-reward career paths.”

A 10-year member of SkillsUSA's National Carpentry Technical Committee, Worsham came to NOVA fresh off representing the United States at the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai — demonstrating to students how technical credentials open doors to global leadership.

Student Excellence and Leadership

NOVA’s SkillsUSA chapter provides a direct bridge between classroom study and high-wage careers in Northern Virginia’s industrial and technology sectors. At the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in June, NOVA student JR Bontrager earned a national gold medal in engineering.

STEM+C Competition Grant for School Teams - Due September 18

The STEM+C Competition Grant application is available to schools seeking to establish a new STEM+C competition team or to enhance an existing team. Eligible schools may request up to $5,000 per team, with a maximum of two teams funded in a division during the 2026–27 academic year. The total award per division may not exceed $10,000. 

The purpose of the STEM+C Competition Grant is to: 

• Increase awareness of career pathways in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science (STEM+C) among educators and students. 

• Engage students in extracurricular STEM+C-related activities through problem-based and project-based team competitions. 

• Support the development and expansion of STEM+C competition teams across the Commonwealth. 

• Strengthen STEM+C literacy through hands-on, problem-driven, integrated learning experiences that promote collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making while exploring the challenges and opportunities central to the STEM+C Competition Team Grant Initiative. 

The 2026 Guidelines for Qualifying for the STEM+C Competition Grant, along with the application materials, are below. Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 18, 2026. 

• STEM+C Competition Grant Initiative Guidance Document
• STEM+C Application (Word)
• STEM+C Application Form (online and preferred method of submission)

Grant applications will be reviewed in the order in which completed and eligible submissions are received. If the total amount of eligible grant requests exceeds available funding, priority will be given to applications proposing the creation of new STEM+C competition teams that demonstrate clear financial need.  

Virginia Region 5 STEM Ecosystem Summit - September 21, 2026 - Harrisonburg

 

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Virginia Region 5 STEM Ecosystem

September 21, 2026 | JMU Festival Conference Center

About the Summit

The Region 5 STEM Ecosystem Summit is a one-day event designed to bring together educators, business and industry leaders, workforce partners, higher education, informal STEM providers, community organizations, and students to strengthen STEM education and workforce development across our region.

Through inspiring presentations and collaborative discussions, participants will build connections, share ideas, and identify priorities that will guide the future work of the Region 5 STEM Ecosystem.

Deadline Extended: Call for Papers IEEE BIBM 2026 Undergraduate and High School Symposium

 from IEEE yesterday:

Deadline Extended: Call for Papers

IEEE BIBM 2026 Undergraduate and High School Symposium

(in conjunction with IEEE BIBM 2026)

Time: Dec 1-4, 2026

Location: Dallas, USA 

Introduction

We are pleased to announce the first IEEE BIBM 2026 Undergraduate and High School Symposium, to be held as part of the IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM) 2026 in Dallas, USA.

The symposium provides a dedicated platform for undergraduate and high school students to present their research in bioinformatics, biomedicine, biomedical informatics, and related areas. It aims to encourage early research experience, support scientific communication, and provide students with opportunities to receive feedback from researchers in academia, industry, and funding agencies.

We invite submissions from undergraduate and high school students on topics including, but not limited to, the following areas:

Middle School Science and Engineering Mentoring Event

On Saturday, August 22, the results of a free, innovative, four-month mentoring program project launched by high schools students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) were on display to an audience of more than 200 at Virginia Tech's Academic Building One at Potomac Yard Metro.  

The TJHSST students guided over 90 Fairfax and Loudoun middle school students through a weekly mentoring program to elevate their scientific and engineering curiosities into research questions and answers, or to solutions to real problems or challenges. Learn more about this at nextinresearch.org.

SCHEV Explores Three-Year Bachelor's Degree (from AXIOS)

 Jul 22, 2026 -

from AXIOS News (click to see original)

Virginia explores 3-year bachelor's degrees

• by Karri Peifer

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Virginia higher education leaders are exploring a three-year bachelor's degree, joining a growing national push to shorten college.

Why it matters: Students could enter the workforce a year sooner while potentially saving thousands in tuition and living expenses.

State of play: The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) announced last month that it's working with reps from several Virginia universities to explore 90-credit undergraduate degree programs.

• That would replace the traditional 120-credit, four-year model that's been the standard for most bachelor's degrees for more than a century.
• Virginia reps are working with counterparts in Ohio to develop the program, joining roughly a dozen other states that are offering or exploring a shorter degree option.
  
  

Zoom in: 11 of Virginia's 16 public universities and four private colleges have expressed "preliminary interest" so far, SCHEV spokesperson Bob Spieldenner tells Axios, cautioning that "the process is in the early stages" and unlikely to "work for most majors."

• Interested schools include Virginia Tech, VCU, George Mason, ODU, William & Mary, Radford, Longwood, Liberty and Virginia Union, Spieldenner says.

Regional students recognized as Finalists at the 2026 Regeneron ISEF

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Society for Science announced the winners of the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), featuring more than 1,700 young scientists representing over 60 countries, regions, and territories. The prestigious international competition was held May 9–15 in Phoenix, AZ, and we had many from our region who can be considered among the world’s top young scientific researchers. 

A few Highlights:

Washington-Liberty sophomores Margaret Saperstein and Orgil Soronzonbold were first in their category, and H-B Woodlawn junior Janak Vasisht, was also a recognized finalist from Arlington.

Nine students from Fairfax County Public Schools won awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that took place last week in Phoenix, Ariz.  

Winners of category awards included: