Local businesses and volunteers donate to Prince Edward schools: $10,000 robotics gift, Boy Scout outdoor classroom and other community support

Prince Edward County school leaders recognized several recent community contributions: a $10,000 donation from Gemini to the Prince Edward Career Technical Center robotics program, a Pepsi‑funded outdoor classroom at Prince Edward County Middle School completed with help from Boy Scout Troop 6516, and a $5,000 check from T‑Mobile presented to support athletics and Friday night activities. Jason Lee, a Career Technical Center staff member, told the board Gemini provided a $10,000 check to replenish robotics equipment: “We received that and are planning to use that to kind of rebuild our inventory of robots.” The district said Gemini representatives were not present at the meeting. Shelley Clark Reed described the outdoor classroom at Prince Edward County Middle School, funded by a Pepsi grant and completed on Aug. 11, 2025, with assistance from local scout volunteers. The 50‑by‑32‑foot atrium includes shaded tables, seating for about 40 students, a teacher podium and native Virginia plantings. Reed said the space is already being used for experiments and lunches. Superintendent Dr. Jones also reported the district received a $5,000 check from T‑Mobile and is eligible to receive additional funds based on social‑media engagement tied to Friday Night Lights; the district is running a campaign to earn up to $25,000. Why it matters: Board members said local business gifts and volunteer projects expand student learning opportunities and bolster extracurricular programs without relying solely on the operating budget. Next steps: The district plans to accept the gift and incorporate the robotics funds into the Career Technical Center inventory; staff will continue community outreach to support athletics and school projects.