The Virginia School Boards Association would like to invite you to apply for the annual Excellence in Workforce Readiness award. This award seeks to recognize Virginia school divisions that have achieved excellence in Workforce Readiness through an innovative program/project within your school community or in a regional collaboration with emphasis on:

  • communication and collaboration with the business community;
  • student engagement with the business community; or
  • student entrepreneurial activities.

Only one submission per school division/region will be accepted.

The VSBA has included a regional category for program submissions to reflect the growing number of collaborations between school divisions in workforce readiness. The regional category is for any two or more school divisions currently working with program partners outside the school division in advancing excellence in workforce readiness through innovative programs/projects across school division boundaries. Individual school divisions submitting for a regional category may also submit an individual application of a program within the school division. The individual application must be independent and not part of the regional category.

The entry must be approved by the school board/boards at a school board meeting.

All entries must be submitted by the deadline of May 30, 2025. No entries will be accepted after 11:59 p.m. on May 30, 2025.

Please direct questions to the Office of Communications at communications@vsba.org or call 434-295-8722.

Please provide a valid e-mail address when completing the entry form. This is how we will communicate with you about your entry.

All entries must be submitted electronically. Photos and links to videos may be submitted as long as the information is included in the electronic entry packet.

All materials become the property of the VSBA and cannot be returned. The VSBA has the right to reprint/republish these materials at any time in any format and in any media.

Please Note: All fields are required to be completed unless specified as optional.

Participation in VSBA initiatives and observances is optional. School boards in Virginia have the discretion on whether to participate locally. Any related materials from the Association are shared as suggested ideas for implementation for any board that may choose to do so.

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* 1. School division or school divisions for Regional Submissions

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* 2. Please select one

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* 3. Name of Program/Initiative

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* 4. Program Partners (outside of the school division/divisions)

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* 5. Contact Person

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* 6. School Divisions(s) Mailing Address

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* 7. Contact Phone Number

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* 8. Contact Email

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* 9. Submitted by:

Program Description

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* 10. What were the processes employed, the strategies used, and the desired outcomes of this program/project for the school division(s)? (500 words or less)

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* 11. In what specific way does the program/project help to prepare students to be workforce ready? (500 words or less)

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* 12. How was your school board, community, business, industry, program partners, and/or other entities engaged in this program/project? (500 words or less)

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* 13. Explain how the school division(s) met desired outcomes of the program/project. (500 words or less)

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* 14. Why does this program/project deserve recognition? (500 words or less)

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* 15. I certify that this nomination is being made with approval of the school board/boards through an official vote at a school board meeting.

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* 16. All nomination materials become the property of the VSBA and cannot be returned. The VSBA has the right to reprint/republish these materials at any time in any format and in any media.

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* 17. Please upload a copy of the signatures for the School Division Chair(s) and Superintendent(s).

PDF, DOC, DOCX file types only.

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* 18. Please attach any photos that you would like included in your submission.

PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG file types only.

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* 19. Please provide any video links that you would like included in your submission.