Salem City Schools’ innovative “Forge the Future” Summer Manufacturing Inclusion Camp concluded Friday with a statewide honor recognizing the school division’s efforts to prepare students for careers in manufacturing.
The Virginia School Boards Association named Salem City Schools the recipient of its 2026 Excellence in Workforce Readiness Award for the program, which school officials said is the first of its kind in Virginia.
The month-long camp combines classroom instruction on workplace safety and workforce readiness with hands-on training at local manufacturing facilities. Students gain real-world experience while learning skills designed to prepare them for future employment.
During this year’s program, students ages 16 to 30 participated in three-week internships at Wabtec, APCO, Integer, Alro Steel and Mersen USA.
The camp concluded Friday afternoon with a celebration at Salem High School, where students were recognized for their participation and accomplishments. Representatives from the participating manufacturing companies joined students and school officials for the event.
The program was made possible through a $25,000 grant from SparkForce, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Foundation.
School officials also recognized Salem City Schools Coordinator of Assessment and Accountability Jeff Bird for his leadership in organizing and implementing the program.
-The Salem Times-Register
