Kingwood, WV, May 18, 2021 – The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Kyle Brewer has been recognized with an Emerging Elite in Manufacturing Award for his work in the classroom. A Preston County High School student, Brewer has excelled in his electrical and welding training. Brewer will receive a $500 award designated for scholarships, certification fees, or specialty equipment. He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia.

“Kyle has been an excellent student both last year and currently. He has great welding skills and has an eye for detail. He works through self-paced assignments without being told every move to make. Kyle has obtained his OSHA 10 Certification Card and is working towards a Welding Plate Certification,” Eric Frederick, Welding Instructor, Preston High School.

Delbarton, WV, May 17, 2021 – The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Brandon Cline has been recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator Award in the high school division for his dedication in the classroom. Cline, a teacher at Mingo Central High School, is a pre-engineering instructor.

Cline will receive a $500 award designated for classroom enhancement. He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia.

“Brandon is a selfless educator who is committed to a more engaging approach of education. Brandon adopts context over content and restores joy and wonder to STEM. This, in my view, is the way that true STEM teaching and learning should happen—and, not surprisingly, it starts by building a strong relationship with every student, an attribute that Brandon exemplifies daily,” Marcella Charles-Casto, Principal, Mingo Central High School.

South Charleston, WV, May 17, 2021 – The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Nathaniel Carlton has been recognized with an Emerging Elite in Manufacturing Award for his work in the classroom.   A South Charleston High School student, Carlton has excelled his honors engineering classes and aspires to become a civil engineer.  Carlton will receive a $500 award designated for scholarships, certification fees, or specialty equipment.  He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. 

“Nathaniel has been an asset to our engineering department and has strong leadership skills within his core group of peers, stepping up to organize and implement often difficult challenges. He has volunteered to learn new programs such as Autodesk Revit and Inventor and mentors the younger students enrolled in our program. Nathaniel has designed and implemented the construction of 3D printed assistive technology, a model Habitat for Humanity floor plan, and many projects requiring higher-level thinking and the engineering design process,” Tambra Kascic, Mathematics, Pre-Engineering and Robotics Instructor, South Charleston High School.

The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Tobin McEldowney has been recognized with an Emerging Elite in Manufacturing Award for his work in the classroom. A Paden City High School student, McEldowney has excelled as a leader in his Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute

courses.  McEldowney will receive a $500 award designated for scholarships, certification fees, or specialty equipment.  He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. 

“Tobin is an outstanding student with very good attendance in my class. When he was remote, Tobin completed his assignments with no issue, and attended all team meetings.  If Tobin had to miss a meeting, he would send me pictures of himself helping his dad on excavating jobs.  Tobin gets along with his peers and always does what is asked of him in the shop; he is very safety conscious. Tobin will make a good employee when he finishes school,” Kenneth Collins, Instructor, MOVTI. 

The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Chuck Parker has been recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator Award in the middle school division for his dedication in the classroom.  Parker, a teacher at Charles Town Middle School, works with students to explore pathways available in career and technical education.  Parker will receive a $500 award designated for classroom enhancement.  He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. 

“Chuck is a dedicated and student centered CTE teacher at Charles Town Middle School. His passion for Career and Technical Education is evident in his everyday teaching. Students in Chuck's classes learn coding, robotics, and programming, among other CTE interests. His students become proficient in these standards while utilizing curriculum elements such as NexRobotics, Code.org, and educational Minecraft,” Nicole V. Reed, Assistant Principal, Charles Town Middle School.