Virginia’s technical workforce faces uncertainty as funding runs out for middle school program

Virginia’s technical workforce faces uncertainty as funding runs out for middle school program

Whitney Rigney was in sixth grade at Chatham Middle School when she fell in love with welding.  Though she used a welding simulator, rather than real equipment, Rigney said she was fascinated by the detailed, hands-on work.  The welding simulator is just one piece of equipment in a larger lab at Chatham Middle. The lab also has computer numerical controlled machinery, robotics equipment, a 3D printer and more.  Students in the GO TEC program use…