GO TEC® Virginia

Seventy-six students from eight school divisions participated in the 2024 GO TEC Virginia VEX IQ Robotics Competition hosted at IALR last week. “The second annual robotics competition at IALR built upon last year’s success and provided an entertaining, beneficial experience for the participants." - Angela Rigney, GO TEC Director "It is so rewarding to see students take what they are learning in their GO TEC courses and apply it in an entertaining, competitive way." - Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical and Training Manager Read more: https://ow.ly/GsYa50R6Vi7 Photos: https://ow.ly/o3Zn50R6Vi8

All smiles, laughs and cheers so far at today's GO TEC Virginia VEX IQ Robotics Competition 🤖

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company donated two replacement tag axle tires to the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program for the GO TEC Mobile Lab. GO TEC is a workforce development project administered by The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in partnership with various collaborators and supporters. As the GO TEC program expands across Virginia, the bus has traveled from Bristol to Hampton Roads, providing engaging and interactive STEM career experiences for students and training and demonstration experiences for teachers and school administrators. More: https://ow.ly/4Xmt50R1poe #STEMcareers #STEMeducation #GOTECVirginia

IALR is proud to announce Angela Rigney, an innovative educator and champion for career and technical education, has been named the director of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program. GO TEC Virginia is a talent development initiative that started in Southern Virginia and is expanding across the Commonwealth. Rigney will oversee the program’s growth as Career Connections Labs and curriculum are implemented throughout Virginia in middle schools from Abingdon to Hampton Roads. "Working with our many partners across K12, industry, higher education and economic development, we will continue to inspire middle school students, highlight STEM careers and, ultimately, create dependable talent pipelines.” – Angela Rigney, GO TEC Director See more: https://ow.ly/B4t250QKL2V

Last Friday the GO TEC Mobile Lab visited South Boston Elementary in the morning and Cluster Springs Elementary in the afternoon. More than 160 fifth-grade students participated in hands-on, career-focused activities utilizing a 4 axis robotic arm. Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical & Training Manager, along with Chris Griffith, Region 3 GO TEC Training Coordinator, introduced students to concepts of robotic arm motion through guided exploration culminating in having the students complete a variety of challenges.

💚