Charleston, WV, May 11, 2021 – The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Dr. Kathy D’Antoni has been presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication and leadership to West Virginia’s career technical education programs. D’Antoni, who retired in 2020 as the Associate State Superintendent over the Division of Technical and Adult Education, was instrumental in developing the state’s career and technical education, which has become a national model of success.
“From the early days of our efforts to tell people about the good jobs and careers in manufacturing, we knew we needed to be on the same page as the educators in this state. Dr. Kathy D’Antoni stepped forward to be our partner on the education side. She has supported us and helped us understand how we could work with local schools to create a pathway to manufacturing careers. Her efforts on behalf of career and technical education in West Virginia has been tireless,” shared Gary Clay, Board Chair of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association Educational Fund Inc.
Dr. D’Antoni’s Lifetime Achievement Award announcement was part of May 10th’s West Virginia Manufacturing Education Day celebration and the launch of the 2021 Emerging Elite in Manufacturing and Outstanding Industry Educator Awards. “West Virginia’s manufacturing education is topnotch today in large part due to Dr. D’Antoni’s steadfast leadership and advocacy. As we begin acknowledging the achievement of students and educators across the state, we are honored to recognize Dr. D’Antoni for her years of commitment and excellence,” stated Monica Cross, Explore the New Manufacturing Program Director.
Dr. D’Antoni’s award was a special creation combining the talents of Carver Career and Technical Education Center students, Kyla Jolliffe and John Smith, and the West Virginia Wood Technology Center. The award features an adult hand passing a gear into a child’s hand. John Smith, graphic design student, explains the hands “symbolizes the instructor, who passes knowledge by leading; but also, the student, who follows by example.”
