On the first day, participants learned about Martin County's top agricultural products!  They explored the history of the cotton ginning and toured Roanoke Cotton Inc.   The North Carolina Peanut growers Association presented all about peanuts, and a local farmer shared his experiences with agriculture and the changes and advances in technology.

Participants and local business leaders conversed and dined at Deadwood Restaurant.  Scott Bowen spoke about the dollars/revenue brought in by agriculture and the importance of being a self sufficient economy.  He shared the importance of economics and understanding the import/export market, and careers involved.

Horses, horses, and more horses...   On the second day participants learned all about equine science and toured Martin Community College.  

Industry partners, Pitt Community College & ECU Health Medical Center, hosted this Health Science Cluster. Educators toured various departments at ECU Health including the Rehabilitation Center and the helicopter pad. Attendees were able to make connections between health science education and various curriculums via their own hands-on experiences.  

In this picture, a Physical Therapist from ECU Health shows teachers how gait abnormalities are dissected using math. 

We spent the evening hours at the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith  Center for Student Advancement where teachers had the opportunity to interact with multiple industry partners from ECU Health, PCC, and other community leaders.  NC East Alliance member Todd Edwards lead  the program with supporting comments from Rep. Gloristine Brown and Rep. Tim Reeder.

In this picture, educators are enjoying a meal from a local favorite, Farmer & the  Dail.  Educators worked up an appetite using pulse oximeters earlier in the day. 

Day 2 started with an amazing interactive tour of the simulation labs including EMS and Respiratory Therapy at Pitt Community College, led by  Dr.  Tywana Lawson, Dean, of the Health Science Division.  In the afternoon our teacher leads conducted hands-on curriculum development and lesson planning. 

In the picture above, teachers are learning more about respiratory therapy to help better engage their students.

Participants spent Day 1 at the Aviation Logistics Center, Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City.   ALC staff provided in-depth guided tours for our educators from across the region, where they learned about locally available careers in aviation.  Participants also learned how to infuse STEM and aviation content into their classroom lessons.

Our Aviation Industry Dinner was held at the K.E. White Center on the campus of Elizabeth City State University.  Participants interacted with industry leaders from across the region to learn more about the opportunities available to their students.  Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, Thorpe Endowed Professor & Dean / CRO Director of Aviation Science at ECSU, provided an overview of aviation programs at the university.

Participants spent Day 2 at the College of the Albemarle campus in Barco, NC.  COA students spent the morning providing participating educators with hands-on training and aviation-related activities in the college's learning labs.  Teachers finished the day by making further connections between STEM, the aviation industry, and their current North Carolina Content Standards.

We were very fortunate to start Day 1 at the Pharmaceutical Services Network training facility in Greenville hosted by staff from the NC Biotechnology Center. Teachers were introduced to a short course that prepares students with the knowledge and skills to apply at our region's regional Biopharma manufacturing centers. Teachers then toured one of two local manufacturers, Catalent or Thermo Fisher, to better understand what happens in those huge facilities we pass by so often. It was a day of getting to know our regional Biopharma industries and what is required to pursue a lucrative career in the life sciences.. 

Teachers attended our industry dinner to mingle and share professional stories with employees and executive personnel from our regional Biopharma Industries. Educators and industry personnel discussed how they might work together to better inform students of career opportunities in Biopharma.  The dinner was held at The Martinsborough in downtown Greenville, NC.

Day 2 of our workshop was focused on career pathways for students interested in pursuing careers in the life sciences, including biopharma. Participants spent the day hosted by the staff at Pitt Community College and rotated through stations where they experienced content and practiced the skills students may need to enter our regional life science careers. From dressing appropriately to using microscopes and diagnostic equipment, teachers engaged with what our community college students do in pursuit of careers. They then spent the afternoon connecting their 2-day experience to classroom standards and instruction.

Participants kicked off day one at the Center for Energy Education where they received an introduction to green energy: hydropower, solar, and wind energy.  Teachers also had the awesome experience of building hydrocars and testing them. Finally, teachers wrapped up the instructional day at Dominion Energy where they participated in an informational session before putting on their hard hats and safety goggles for a tour of the dam. 

The Industry Dinner at Weldon Mills Theatre was a great success. Teachers were able to mix and mingle with Industry Partners from Dominion Energy, Deriva, Halifax Community College, and the Center for Energy Education. In addition, teachers were greeted by local school and government officials, as well as current candidates. Dinner was highlighted by a live saxophonist.

Participants returned to the Center for Energy Education for Day 2 with a focus on solar energy. The team was divided into groups for tours of the solar farm and the C4EE facility. The solar farm tour, which was led by industry partner Deriva, allowed participants to get an up close and personal view of the solar panels that provide energy to Dominion Energy. John Ledgerwood led the C4EE tour and provided an in-depth lesson about green energy while also demonstrating several products and resources C4EE has created.

Day 1 was a busy, fun-filled day.  In two separate groups, we toured Jarrett Bay Boatworks, with lunch on site, and rode skiffs to see oyster farms and hear how Blue Economy is crucial to the area.  Participants were also challenged to create a "boat" using everyday materials, spheros, and ingenuity to save their Lego men!

Our industry dinner was catered by The Flame and couldn't have been in a more perfect venue for Blue Economy - the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores! Nothing like enjoying good food and meeting new people in front of a shipwreck and hundreds of organisms swimming around.  This was a great opportunity to network and unwind after a very busy day.

During our second day together, participants had the opportunity to visit various programs available at Carteret Community College. They toured the MARTEC (Marine Trade and Eductation Center) building  to learn about boat building and also visited the aquaculture lab.  As an added bonus, they toured the CMAST building, which  houses programs/research by NC State in the area. Teachers also had time to create lesson plans inspired by the Blue Economy.

We welcomed a diverse group of educators for our Health Science cluster at the College of the Albemarle-Elizabeth City campus. Teachers were immersed in health science education by following the progress of a stroke patient from the emergency department to discharge at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.  In the picture above, teachers were "trained" in advanced surgery techniques using the DaVinci Surgical Robotic System. 

Our industry dinner was a spectacular event at Seven Sounds Brewing Company, overlooking the beautiful waterfront in Elizabeth City. While enjoying some truly southern BBQ, educators and industry partners could share their experiences, collaborate, and hear from special guests.  

In the picture above, North Carolina Senator  Bobby Hanig shares his experiences with the industry clusters. 

Our College of the Albemarle partners facilitated an engaging rotation for our educators. From wound care and paramedic/ambulance training to practical nursing and surgical technology,  our attendees could truly experience the joys of health science before creating their lesson plans to take back to each of their classrooms. 

In the picture above, our educators practiced sutures & wound care. 

Day 1 began with participants thinking about agriculture and its impact and importance.    James Sprunt Community College then provided a tour of campus with a spotlight on their agriculture related courses and classrooms.    After lunch, the group traveled to River Landing and learned about the history of Murphy Family Ventures and the career opportunities they provide to the community.   They saw first hand how SmartAg is used with the turf management and landscaping within River Landing.  

Our SmartAg Industry dinner was held at the clubhouse at River Landing in Wallace, NC.  Participants began the evening networking with employees from Murphy Family Ventures , NC East Alliance, STEM East and other local businesses.    David Hulbert of Murphy Family Ventures spoke to the group before all enjoyed a delicious dinner.

On day 2, participants began the day thinking about the advances in technology and the impact on agriculture.  Colby Sawyer, from PITON, Platform for IoT Open Networks spoke to the group about ECU's work with smart farming in eastern NC.  A panel discussion was then held with local farmers who shared their insights on the future of agriculture and the workforce skills needed among our youth.  Participants then traveled to WestPark campus of JSCC where they were able to explore the workforce development center and the newly added Box to Bowl hydroponics Smart Farm.  

Day 1 of this event included a "field trip" to Fleet Readiness Center East.  Located aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, FRCE offers a wide variety of careers in aviation.

Aviation industry leaders  and community college representatives from across Eastern North Carolina joined our participants for conversation and networking at the Havelock Tourist & Event Center.

Participants spent Day 2 of the event connecting STEM and aviation concepts with their classroom curriculum standards.  Craven Community College staff educated our participants on how their students can gain the skills necessary to success in the aviation industry.