Date:   April 28, 2004 
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720 

  Gillian Kane-Mobley
  Partnership Prince William Coordinator
  703-791-8002
  mobleygk@pwcs.edu

Three Prince William County school-business partnerships are the winners of the first annual Business Partnership Awards sponsored by Partnership Prince William.  The awards were created to recognize “best practices” in school-to-business partnerships that have significantly improved academic achievement and/or work readiness skills for Prince William County Public School students.  Partnership Prince William was formed in 1999 by the school division, the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation.

Partnerships between Stonewall Middle School and Lockheed Martin, Potomac High School and MDA Technologies, and Brentsville District High School and Synergy One Federal Credit Union were among 13 programs nominated for the Business Partnership Awards.  The Advisory Council for Partnership Prince William, comprised of representatives of the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce, Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce, Prince William County Department of Economic Development, Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation, and Prince William County Public Schools, selected the winners.  

The winners and nominees were recognized at the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation Recognition Gala held on April 23 at the Piedmont Club in Haymarket.  A description of the winning partnerships follows.

Lockheed Martin and Stonewall Middle School

This partnership began in 2002 with a mission to strengthen math and science curriculum for Stonewall Middle School students and to educate Lockheed Martin parents about school issues.  Goals and activities were established to support the mission of the partnership, including academic mentoring, science fair participation, career day participation, Space Day Mentor Program, presentation and leadership skills opportunities for employees of Lockheed Martin, creating brand recognition for Lockheed Martin amongst Stonewall Middle School students, and incorporating business ethics and values into programs sponsored by Lockheed Martin.  This partnership “best practice” highlights learning, understanding, and community building.  

MDA Technologies and Potomac Senior High School

This partnership was created to increase student achievement and to provide work readiness skills for students to become successful beyond high school.  Goals and activities were established to support the partnership’s mission, including instruction in web design for business classes; web development career opportunities, industry standards, and expectations; specialty program support for the Cambridge Program to include panel discussions for student future planning; and specialty program support for the Cambridge math and science component to include science fair participation and Sophomore Interview Day participation.  MDA Technologies also contributed the website development for Potomac High School’s website and continues to provide updates and training to teachers and students for posting information.  This partnership “best practice” highlights multiple layers of school and business involvement.  

Synergy One Federal Credit Union and Brentsville District High School

This partnership was first established to increase student understanding of personal finance but has grown significantly over the course of the life of the partnership to include work readiness skills in finance and student academic achievement.  Several activities were established to support their mission, including training and work experience for students in the financial industry; sponsoring financial literacy workshops to include materials and guest speakers; judges for FBLA Conference; and field trips.  Because of the success of these activities, the partnership expanded to include assistance for establishing other partners, financial support for FBLA competitions, community service projects, and hosting school events.  The culmination of this partnership came when the Tiger Synergy One Federal Credit Union branch opened inside Brentsville District School.  Students and Synergy One Federal Credit Union staff operate the branch.  This partnership “best practice” exemplifies how a partnership can grow and expand to incorporate all facets of education and business.      

For more information, log on to the Partnership Prince William web site, pwcspartnership.org, or contact Gillian Kane-Mobley, Administrative Coordinator (703) 791-8002.