BBG Tech: CareerTechWV Powers Tech Talent all Throughout West Virginia 

By: Aiden Satterfield

West Virginia’s tech scene is getting state-funded help with resources like CareerTechWV. Run by the West Virginia Department of Education, CareerTechWV offers hands-on Career Technical Education (CTE) programs that teach real-world tech skills, from IT to advanced manufacturing, prepping students for high-demand jobs. 

CareerTechWV lets students dive into technical training as early as middle school, exploring careers through programs like IT support, welding, and even cybersecurity basics. By high school, they’re earning industry-recognized credentials and getting work-based learning experiences that set them up for success. 

Take the Academy of Careers and Technology (ACT) in Beckley, for example. Students there are mastering skills like computer networking and electrical tech, with some even earning Awards for excellence at the 2024 CTE Awards Gala. One ACT grad, a Beckley native, went from tinkering with computers in class to landing a systems admin job at a local hospital, proving these programs open doors in rural areas.

What’s cool is how CareerTechWV meets students where they are. Even in the states’ most rural places, where jobs can be scarce, CTE programs at local centers offer training in high-demand fields, helping kids stay local and build careers. The state’s also aligning these programs with workforce needs, ensuring grads are ready for jobs at tech hubs like the I-79 High Technology Park in Fairmont. 

CareerTechWV is a game-changer, turning West Virginia’s youth into tech talent who can protect our systems and power our economy. From Beckley to Morgantown, these success stories show we’re building a future where our communities thrive. I’m rooting for more investment to keep this momentum going, THIS is what our state needs.

Aiden Satterfield is a cybersecurity graduate and athlete from Walsh University, and a native West Virginian.
For more information or to engage with BBG Tech contact: info@blackbygod.org. Let’s continue to inspire, inform, and foster an environment where diversity and innovation thrive in the tech industry.