McDowell Students Showcase Robotics and AI at State Capitol
McDowell County Career and Technical Center students joined 11 other West Virginia schools at the State Capitol on December 4, 2025 for the third annual Country Roads Codes Day, presenting projects in computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence. The event matters locally because it gives students direct exposure to state leaders as West Virginia moves to expand access to computer science and update graduation requirements.
The West Virginia Department of Education hosted the third annual Country Roads Codes Day at the State Capitol on December 4, 2025. Twelve schools from across the state, including McDowell County Career and Technical Center, demonstrated student work in computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence for legislators and the public. The showcase offered McDowell students the opportunity to present projects and to discuss classroom needs and curriculum with state leaders.
State officials emphasized expanding access to computer science as part of upcoming graduation requirements, and the event highlighted a partnership with WVU CodeWV to support that expansion. For McDowell County, which faces persistent economic challenges and workforce transition pressures, the chance for students to display technical skills in a public forum connects classroom learning to potential pathways in higher education and the labor market. Hands on projects in robotics and AI signal readiness for the types of technical roles that are increasingly demanded in statewide and regional economies.
Participation at the Capitol also creates a direct line between local educators and policymakers. When students and teachers present tangible examples of curriculum in action, legislators can better assess resource needs such as teacher training, equipment and broadband access. The WVU CodeWV partnership is designed to assist with curriculum development and teacher support, factors that will be important if new graduation standards increase the number of required computer science credits.
For families and local officials, the event demonstrates how McDowell students are gaining exposure to technology education beyond the classroom. It also places the county in conversations about state level education policy, which could influence future funding decisions and programming priorities. As West Virginia moves to broaden computer science access, schools that showcased student work at Country Roads Codes Day have a clearer voice in shaping implementation, and McDowell County students now have documented examples of skills they can build on for postsecondary study and employment.
