Education
Dedicated to equipping the future workforce in West Virginia with the necessary knowledge and skills that allow them to continue driving the state forward , Kanawha County offers a myriad of universities and programs to meet every educational need .
In South Charleston , just one of an impressive nine branches of Marshall University , not including its main Huntington location , provides coursework in education , business , technology and information technology .
One way Marshall is continuing to advance the state in education is through the newly implemented , state-of-theart Bill Noe Flight School .
Opening last fall , the Bill Noe Flight School is helping the nation meet the ever-growing need for commercial pilots . With both ground and flight courses , this program prepares graduates to become pilots of single and multi-engine aircraft .
With a goal of bringing the university to the people , West Virginia State University ( WVSU ) enthusiastically lives out its mission of prioritizing teaching , research and service . Some outreach efforts include innovative programs in areas of youth development , business , community , families and agricultural and natural resources .
“ Since its founding in 1891 , WVSU has played a pivotal role in the fabric of life in the Kanawha Valley , throughout the state of West Virginia and beyond . The university has served as a springboard for thousands of students to obtain the education that they desired to achieve the lives they knew possible ,” says Jack Bailey , assistant vice president for university relations . “ Equally important , we count among our alumni more than 8,000 people in the Kanawha Valley that collectively make a powerful contribution to the local and state economy and play important roles in the community through their leadership roles in every walk of life .”
Located directly across the river from West Virginia ’ s Capitol Building , the University of Charleston ( UC ) rightly calls itself Charleston ’ s university . Dedicated to producing students who embody its mission statement of productive work , enlightened living and community involvement , UC is always finding new ways to actively serve in the Charleston area .
University of Charleston . Photo by Dave Traube .
Aerial view of Montgomery . Photo by the City of Montgomery .
“ Simply put , we love our community . Outside of the economic impact our institution has on the area , each August when we welcome over 1,000 residents to Charleston , our students perform community service , gain meaningful employment and build lasting relationships with the residents of Kanawha County ,” says Dave Traube , vice president of communications and marketing for the university . “ While some of our students are only in Kanawha County for a short time , others decide to stay and build their careers , start their families and continue investing in the area that has invested in them while they pursue their education .”
Passionate about building the future leaders of tomorrow , BridgeValley Community & Technical College — with campuses in both South Charleston and Montgomery — offers cutting-edge technology and works to put highly skilled scholars into the state ’ s workforce . Committed to increasing the participation of the state ’ s youth in STEM , BridgeValley is leading the way in introducing STEM to a budding generation of scholars .
“ We ’ re blessed here . West Virginians are blessed .”
“ We ’ re blessed here . West Virginians are blessed . We all live pretty close , we all get along , and we ’ re all really kind of from the same culture ,” says Greg Ingram , mayor of the City of Montgomery .
Just as the state ’ s largest waterway , the Kanawha River , flows dynamically through this county , so does its people ’ s passion , commitment and dedication to upholding the state ’ s legacy and ensuring that West Virginia remains a must-visit tourist destination for many years to come . The perfect combination of small-town charm and vibrant city energy , Kanawha County is a place that everyone can call home . •
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