DAVIS – The National Youth Science Foundation announced Thursday the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration approved the NYSC’s proposal to acquire the facilities of the Canaan Valley Institute near Davis.
Students participate in a rocket seminar outside the STEM Education Center.
The National Youth Science Foundation has plans to transform CVI’s $18 million campus into the NYSF’s STEM Education Center. NYSF officials said the center will be capable of providing innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs for hundreds of students each year.
Dr. Andrew Blackwood, Executive Director of the NYSF said he was excited the proposal was accepted.
“What this means is we can continue marching in the direction of acquiring the CVI building and property,” Blackwood said. “Now comes a great deal of paperwork. The process is a matter of going through with an agreement for transfer of ownership with the Canaan Valley Institute. NOAA will continue to be involved as the granting agency and so it’s really a lot of those steps that need to be happening in the next month or two.”
Blackwood said after receiving the invitation to submit a proposal for acquiring the CVI building, NYSF started a crowd funding campaign to gather support for the proposal.
“The campaign was quite successful,” Blackwood said. “In total, for the next five years, we have been able to generate pledges that total a little more than $1.5 million. This gives us great confidence we will be able to support the facility for the long term.”
Blackwood said he believes more than 700 NYSF alumni participated in the crowd funding campaign, as well as many other supporters from the general community at large.
The NYSF also acknowledges the support of its trustees including members of the Tucker County community, Dr. Michael Martirano, the W.Va. State Superintendent of Schools, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., the W.Va. State Board of Education and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
Ron Pearson, Chairman of the NYSF Board of Trustees said the opportunity would not be possible without the generous support of alumni and friends. “Their commitment will make it possible for the NYSF to serve many more students each year in a robust, ready-made STEM education facility.”
“Establishing the STEM Education Center will empower the NYSF to leverage its more than 50-years-experience hosting the National Youth Science Camp to serve hundreds of W.Va. students each year. By building communities among students, teachers and professionals, NYSF programs bridge the gap between the traditional school curriculum and careers in STEM and related professions.”
The process to change ownership of the CVI building and property began in November when two groups, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and NYSF both stepped forward announcing their desire to obtain the property. In December, the Tucker County Commission hosted an open meeting in Davis. The comments from local residents from that meeting and written comments sent to all interested parties, showed unwavering support for the NYSF to take over the CVI facility and grounds and offer STEM education for students in W.Va., the U.S. and foreign countries.
In January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced they had decided not to acquire the Canaan Valley Institute building and associated land in Davis, prompting a round table discussion the end of January.
Chief Administrative Officer for NOAA, Edward Horton, sent Pearson a letter asking for a written proposal and information including the NYSF financial statements, information on funding NYSF would dedicate to operating and maintaining the CVI property and information on how NYSF would use the CVI property. Horton asked for these documents and proposal no later than Feb. 13.
Horton’s letter stated that NOAA would be “looking to ensure that NYSF’s use of the CVI property would be consistent with NOAA’s mission, and that ensure that NYSF would have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the CVI property over the long-term.” The letter asked for a timeline demonstrating the CVI property transfer would be completed on or before June 1.
The NYSF is a non-profit organization that operates STEM education programs. The NYSF plans to establish the National Center for Youth Science Education on property that it owns adjacent to the CVI campus. The National Center for Youth Science Education will become the permanent home of its flagship program, the National Youth Science Camp. Additional information about the NYSF is available online at http://www.nysf.com.
The Canaan Valley Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Central Appalachia with clean rivers and streams. While CVI’s facilities will be transferred to the NYSF, CVI will continue to maintain offices at the STEM Education Center and provide important services and education opportunities in the region. Additional information about CVI is available online at http://www.canaanvi.org.
