Building Hope and Britebound, two nonprofit organizations focused on improving educational opportunities for youth across the nation, have announced the school is one of five applicants to be awarded the Future Forward Schools Prize.

The Utica Shale Academy was one of 256 applicants for the grant program, which is part of a three-year initiative recognizing middle and high schools that engage youth early in preparing for future careers.

William Watson, the school’s superintendent, said the funds will be used to purchase equipment needed to launch a new wheel service and alignment certification program through which students will learn to change, rotate and balance tires and perform other preventive maintenance on vehicles in the school’s fleet.

Under the supervision of trained staff, participants in the program will gain firsthand experience using about a dozen vans, sport utility vehicles and a truck used to transport students and perform other tasks, he noted.

Thanks to the grant students will gain experience changing tires and performing other preventive maintenance, under the supervision of a trained staff member, on vehicles in the regional career technical school’s fleet. (Submitted photo)

Slated to begin this fall, the program will provide qualified students with tire service certification through Snap-On, with whom the school has partnered for other programs.

Watson said the addition will build on the diesel mechanics curriculum that falls under the school’s industrial maintenance course, for which about 50 students currently are enrolled, and could boost enrollment in that area.

He said most importantly, it will offer another set of skills to prepare USA’s students for the workforce.

“There’s no way you can give kids too many options or avenues to get good jobs,” said Watson.

He said his response to news the school was awarded the grant could be described as “surreal.”

Watson said the school has been fortunate to receive various grants but none through such a competitive process. He said in addition to submitting an extensive grant application, it involved related staff being interviewed twice.

“I’m really thankful for the opportunity. A lot of factors go into winning something on the national level, but I think our being rewarded this is a testament to our staff,” he said.

The Utica Shale Academy was one of 10 finalists named earlier this year.

The school is one of five to receive a total of $250,000 through the grant program.

Other recipients are: Comp Sci High in the Bronx, N.Y.; UP Academy Dorchester of Boston, Old Brook High School of Parma, Ohio; and New Mexico School for the Arts of Santa Fe.

Watson said in addition to receiving the grant, USA will be part of the Future Forward Schools Fellowship, through which staff will have access to training and information from professionals through various parts of the country.

He said in connection with the new program, staff will deliver a presentation at a conference of the National Charter Schools Foundation in New Orleans and two others held by the fellowship, including one in Boston.

With courses in welding, heavy equipment and industrial maintenance, the Utica Shale Academy serves about 150 students in Jefferson, Columbiana, Carroll, Mahoning and Stark counties.

Officials with Building Hope and Britebound said the Future Forward Schools Prize was established to help career-oriented schools with fewer resources that serve students of lesser income, minority groups or special needs.

Bill Hansen, president and chief executive officer of Building Hope, said, “Too many of our nation’s schools are still preparing students for a world that no longer exists. These five schools are doing something different – they’re giving students, especially those that have been historically left out of economic opportunity, the chance to discover what they’re good at and what they want to pursue. That kind of early investment in career exploration isn’t just good for students. It’s good for communities and the workforce they’ll one day help build.”

Julie Lammers, president and chief executive officer of Britebound, said, “Research is clear that students want to connect what they’re learning to where they’re headed, and they want to start that process far earlier than we’ve traditionally allowed.”

“These winning schools are strengthening student engagement and purpose to better prepare young people for the future. We’re proud to support them,” she said.