Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center

Expanding Education to Meet the Workforce Needs of Tomorrow 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, total employment is projected to grow by 7.2 million jobs between 2022 and 2032. In Virginia, the Virginia Employment Commission forecasts especially strong growth in healthcare, education, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades. As the Commonwealth’s population continues to age—with nearly one in four Virginians projected to be 65 or older by 2032—employers face both a retiring workforce and an urgent need for new, tech-savvy talent.

The Emil and Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center positions Winchester students and community members at the heart of this transition. Its mission is to prepare every learner with future-ready, marketable skills that support both local industries and Virginia’s broader economic goals for a diverse, sustainable workforce.

Reflecting the trends identified in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, the Center integrates training in high-growth fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and healthcare technology—areas expected to create thousands of new jobs across the Commonwealth. Virginia’s strategic investments in data centers, clean energy, biotechnology, and advanced logistics align directly with these pathways, creating strong employment pipelines for students.

Through hands-on, project-based learning, students apply academic knowledge to real-world industry challenges, building skills in critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, and ethical decision-making—all core to success in the modern workplace.

Three academies—the Advanced Technologies Academy, Professional Skills Academy, and Health Sciences Academy—offer students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials and gain experiences that connect them directly to Virginia’s fastest-growing sectors.

The Innovation Center serves as a regional hub for workforce innovation, ensuring that the Northern Shenandoah Valley develops the skilled, adaptable workforce needed to sustain Virginia’s position as one of the nation’s most dynamic economies.