Congratulations to the 2026 Creating Excellence Award Winners

The Virginia Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education is pleased to announce the 2026 Creating Excellence Award Honorees representing 19 exemplary CTE programs and partnerships who were honored during the awards luncheon hosted in conjunction with the Virginia Community College System on June 11, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia.

VDOE awarded Secondary CTE State Awards in three categories, as follows:

• Advisory Committee Award: State and Region 1 – Chesterfield Career and Technical Center at Courthouse’s
• Business and Industry Partnership Award: State and Region 6 – SparkForce, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Foundation, nominated by Salem Public Schools
• Exemplary CTE Program Award: State and Region 1 – Henrico County’s Welding for the 3Es program at the Advanced Career Education Center at Virginia Randolph

VCCS Presented Postsecondary CTE awards in three categories, as follows:

• Advisory Committee Award: State and Zone 5 – Tidewater Community College’s Paralegal Associate of Applied Science Program Advisory Committee
• Business and Industry Partnership Award: State and Zone 5 – Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship program, nominated by Tidewater Community College
• Exemplary Program Award: State and Zone 1 – Data Center Operations, Associate of Applied Science and Career Studies Certificate program at Northern Virginia Community College

Congratulations to these outstanding CTE partnerships and programs.