Rappahannock Community College and Virginia Tech have joined forces to offer a new career and technical training program, “Promoting Careers in Aquaculture,” for local high school juniors and seniors.

The course is open to students in Gloucester, Mathews, Lancaster, Essex, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland counties. This field provides many employment opportunities for those who wish to work in a hands-on, physically active and nature-based industry with growing product demand. The shellfish aquaculture industry offers year-round employment for individuals who want to work on the water in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.Students must apply to the program through their participating school system counseling office. The Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula regions will each have 10 students selected to participate in the program. The course consists of three parts, which will begin in mid-February with an online short course introducing the science and practic...