Only Eight (8) Partnerships Named Winners from Nearly 80 Entries
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W. Va. – BridgeValley Community & Technical College proudly celebrates the WIN Academy’s school-business partnership with WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals, which has been named one of eight regional winners in the West Virginia Education Alliance's inaugural Hope for the Future: WV School-Business Partnership of the Year Awards Program.
As part of this recognition, the WIN Academy-WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals partnership will receive a $2,000 celebration grant and will compete with the other seven winners for the State Partnership of the Year. The overall winner will be announced at The Education Summit on May 15, 2025, featuring West Virginia native and actress Jennifer Garner. The State Partnership of the Year Award is valued at $25,000.
Launched by The Education Alliance Caperton Center for School and Business Partnerships with support from Hope Gas, this awards program recognizes impactful school-business partnerships that are helping West Virginia K-12 students succeed academically and prepare for future careers.
Description of Winning Entry:
As part of the WIN Academy experience, every student takes part in hands-on clinical training and has the opportunity to gain paid work experience through externships at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals. These real-world learning environments allow students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom while developing critical skills and building professional relationships. With direct mentorship from healthcare professionals, students are better prepared for careers in the medical field, equipped with both knowledge and confidence to take the next step.
BridgeValley Community & Technical College, a proud partner in this initiative, applauds the collaboration as a model for workforce development that starts early and delivers real-world experience.
Dr. Casey Sacks, President of BridgeValley CTC, said, “This award is a powerful recognition of the meaningful impact the WIN Academy and WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals are making together. At BridgeValley, we believe that creating strong, career-connected learning experiences is the key to preparing students for a thriving future in West Virginia. We are honored to be part of a partnership that is truly changing lives and shaping the healthcare workforce of tomorrow.”
Dr. Amelia Courts, President/CEO of The Education Alliance, said, “The Partnership of the Year Award highlights the incredible impact of school-business partnerships on students across West Virginia. We are thrilled to partner with Hope Gas on this initiative and to congratulate The WIN Academy for this remarkable recognition.”
Morgan O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Gas, added, “On behalf of everyone at Hope Gas, I congratulate the schools, businesses and, most importantly, the students taking part in these winning partnerships. School-business partnerships are critical to exposing students to careers and preparing them for the evolving job landscape. Hope Gas is committed to supporting the important work of organizations that help make sure kids have opportunities to achieve their fullest education, career and life potential right here in the Mountain State. That is why we started Hope’s ‘Keeping Our Kids in West Virginia’ initiative. I am so proud to support the Education Alliance’s Hope for the Future Awards WV School-Business Partnership of the Year Awards with the first grant from Hope's Keeping Our Kids in West Virginia project. Congratulations winners and Educational Alliance on your great work!"
To learn more about BridgeValley’s commitment to building strong school-business partnerships that drive student success, visit www.bridgevalley.edu.
To learn more about the Hope for the Future: WV School-Business Partnership of the Year Awards Program or to establish a partnership at your local school, visit www.educationalliance.org.