The Impact of SPARK Energy Career Summer Camp
Southwest Virginia Community College’s SPARK (Skilled Pathways for Advancement, Resilience, and Knowledge) Energy Career Summer Camp is receiving national recognition through a feature article and podcast produced by Instructure, a leading educational technology company.
The article,“How One Community College Gave Teenagers a Summer Head Start on Energy Careers,” highlights how Southwest’s faculty and staff developed a five-week summer program that introduced students ages 14-17 to in-demand energy and technical careers through hands-on training, safety instruction, industry engagement, and professional certifications. The program was made possible through a nearly $500,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Energy.
The accompanying Educast 3000 podcast episode,“Short Circuit: How a Virginia Community College Built an Energy Career Camp for Teens,” features Southwest faculty members Steven Olinger and Joe Godsey discussing the creation of the camp, lessons learned from its first year, and the impact it had on participating students.
Through SPARK, students earned industry-recognized credentials while exploring career opportunities that support the region’s workforce needs. The program also connected participants with local employers and introduced many students to career pathways they may not have otherwise considered.
To learn more about the program, you can visit Spark Energy Career Summer Camp.