Woodlake High wins $100K in national contest, could win more (original) (raw)

WOODLAKE, Calif. (FOX26) — Woodlake High School in Tulare County was named a finalist in a U.S. Department of Education contest on Thursday.

By advancing to the finals, Woodlake High has won 100,000andcouldwinanother100,000 and could win another 100,000andcouldwinanother100,000.

The challenge aims to advance technology education, support rural educators, and prepare students for the in-demand careers of today and tomorrow.

Employment growth in technology careers is outpacing other occupations, and across industries, many of the fastest-growing career opportunities will require advanced technology skills. The Rural Tech Project is designed to empower educators with resources for creating technology education programs customized for their students and local needs.

During the first phase, rural high schools were invited to propose technology education programs that use competency-based distance learning.

The Rural Tech Project received 63 proposals from teams across 34 states.

Entrants proposed programs focusing on a range of technology skills — from computer science and cybersecurity to robotics and aviation.

Woodlake High School’s proposal introduced an online aviation program that will prepare students for regional careers or post-secondary degrees.

Students will learn drone operations, geometry, and aerodynamic principles, and apply that knowledge through in-person drone flights and simulator work.

“Rural communities have envisioned a breadth of technology education programs. The finalist teams are setting out to equip their students with in-demand skills for rewarding careers across industries,” said Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Scott Stump. “We look forward to supporting the teams as they use flexible learning models to create programs that increase instructional capacity and truly work for their students.”

For the second phase of the competition, finalists will develop detailed program plans and build partnerships from January through July before programs launch.

During summer 2023, teams will document their outcomes and learnings in a final submission; a judging panel will then recommend one grand-prize winner to receive an additional $100,000.

The Rural Tech Project will compile insights from all finalist teams and share lessons learned as a resource for other communities.

The other finalists are iLead Academy in Carrollton, Kentucky; Louisa County Public Schools in Mineral, Virginia; Premont Independent School District in Premont, Texas; and Ravenna High School in Ravenna, Michigan.

Click here to learn more about the Rural Tech Project.