UVa-Wise receives Excellence in Technology Education award

The Southwestern Virginia Technology Council recently awarded The University of Virginia’s College at Wise the Excellence in Technology Education Award for its operation of the College’s Southwest Virginia Technology Development Center in Lebanon.

The award is the second UVa-Wise has garnered from SWVTC. The College won an award last year for its undergraduate software engineering program, the only one of its kind throughout Virginia.

Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra, SWVTC President Donald Purdie and Jerry Miller of the Holston Medical Group presented the award during the organization’s annual gala on May 28 at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.

“Education plays a critical role in establishing new employment opportunities in our region,” said Sim Ewing, the College’s vice chancellor for finance and government relations. “This award highlights the impact UVa-Wise and the Southwest Virginia Technology Center have on developing the region’s economy through educational programs in technology and science.”

The Center provides access to technical education and professional development for all area professionals and it complements information technology training for the region’s emerging information technology industry.

“We’re honored to be recognized for making a positive contribution to the lives of our information technology professionals,” said Shannon Blevins, director of economic development for UVa-Wise and director of the Southwest Virginia Technology Development Center.

The Southwestern Virginia Technology Council, organized in 1999, addresses technology issues for businesses, education and government with the purpose of enhancing the vitality and social well being of the region. Membership on the council includes businesses, institutions and individuals from the Wytheville region to far Southwest Virginia.

The only branch campus of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation’s top ten public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise offers Virginia’s only undergraduate degree in software engineering, among 28 other degrees and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

Posted June 13, 2008