Project Lead the Way expands

Lenoir County Schools was recently awarded funds by the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors, which will be used to develop Project Lead the Way at local high schools.

“It is very exciting for our school system to be awarded this Golden LEAF grant,” Lenoir County Schools Superintendent Terry Cline said. “This funding will allow us to prepare our students for the growing needs of the incoming industries.”

The directors awarded the school district with $215,000 during December. The funds will be used to purchase computers for teachers and students, support teacher training and purchase the latest design software.

Before the grant, Project Lead the Way was only offered at South Lenoir High School. The program will now be offered to students at Kinston and North Lenoir high schools as well.

Project Lead the Way was first introduced at South Lenoir in 2006. The program offers courses on engineering.

Students enrolled in the program can expect to graduate with a knowledge of the engineering field and specific job skills. It allows students a taste of college-level engineering courses and a grasp of core concepts and vocabulary before entering programs at the college level.

The Golden LEAF funds will also be used to further develop Project Lead the Way at South Lenoir and establish program at Kinston and North Lenoir for the first time.

So far this year, the foundation has awarded $4.4 million in grants to address some of the state’s urgent workforce needs in the aerospace industry.

“The Foundation is interested in building talent, knowledge and skill of citizens, especially in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and rural communities,” Golden LEAF President Dan Gerlach said.

Chris Lavender can be reached at 252-559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.