Jan. 18 press conference will announce $74,420 Cooperative Education grant

Valdosta State University will host a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 in the University Center Theater to announce that VSU's Office of Cooperative Education has won a $74,420 federal grant to expand work-based learning.

The "School to Career" grant is one of nine awards nationally bestowed through The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). This effort involves "Higher Education Institutions Partnering with High Schools to Expand Work-Based Learning," and includes the Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Lanier and Lowndes County school systems as well as the Valdosta City Schools system.

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss, VSU administrators, area school superintendents, Valdosta Technical Institute administrators and local civic leaders are expected to be on hand.

Members of the media are encouraged to attend. For additional background details, contact Don Parks, director of Cooperative Education, at 229-333-7172 or dparks@valdosta.edu .