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:

High School National Finalists representing Invention Virginia / Invention DC

 

Five high school teams (14 inventors total) have been selected to represent Virginia and DC at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in June!

Invention Virginia / Invention DC - Middle School National Finalists

 

Five middle school inventors have been selected to represent Virginia and DC at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in June!

Invention Virginia / Invention DC - Elementary School National Finalists

Eight elementary inventors have been selected to represent Virginia and DC at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan in June!

NOVA and HITT Foundation Partner to Address Northern Virginia Skilled Trades Shortage

 from https://www.nvcc.edu/about/news/press-releases/2026/HITT-300k.html

Workforce Development: NOVA and HITT Foundation Partner to Address Northern Virginia Skilled Trades Shortage

May 4, 2026

MANASSAS, Va. (May 5, 2026) — To kick off Construction Safety Week, May 4-8, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and HITT Contracting are announcing a $300,000 gift from HITT to the NOVA Educational Foundation. The three-year investment beginning in 2026 will help bridge the region’s skilled trades gap, underscoring HITT’s commitment to supporting education and training for the next generation of builders.

Championing the People Who Will Build Our Future

Rendering: Manassas Skilled Trades Center

This investment directly supports the Manassas Skilled Trades Center, currently under construction on NOVA’s Manassas Campus. The 24,000-square-foot facility will significantly expand programming and capacity for automotive, electric vehicle (EV), hybrid, diesel power generation and facilities maintenance technology.

Central to this facility is the newly named HITT Energy Innovation Lab, which will serve as the hub for specialized workforce training in electrical and trade skills.