What does the future of work look like in Halifax County, and how can educators help students prepare for it?

That question is at the heart of EXCITE Halifax, a weeklong summer educator bootcamp sponsored by Microsoft TechSpark in partnership with the SOVA Innovation Hub and local community, education, economic development, and industry partners.

The program gives Halifax County educators an opportunity to step outside the classroom and experience the businesses, industries, technologies, and career opportunities available right here in the region.

Bringing Local Career Opportunities to Life

Throughout the week, educators hear directly from community and economic development leaders and visit employers representing a wide range of industries.

The 2026 program began at the SOVA Innovation Hub with a “State of Halifax County” discussion featuring representatives from the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, Town of Halifax, Halifax County, and Town of South Boston.

From there, educators spent the week visiting local and regional employers and learning firsthand about their operations, workforce needs, technology, and career opportunities.

The 2026 industry experiences included Gloster, Comfort Systems, IperionX, Hitachi, Reynolds, H&M Logging, Huber, Mid-Atlantic, TMI, and Virginia International Raceway, along with stops highlighting programs and opportunities at VIR.
The photos from this year’s program tell the story, too. Educators can be seen touring Gloster, exploring vehicles and technology, visiting IperionX, and wrapping up the week at Virginia International Raceway.

Connecting the Classroom to the Workplace

EXCITE Halifax is about more than touring businesses.

By talking directly with industry professionals and seeing workplaces in action, educators gain a better understanding of the skills employers need, the technology being used across different industries, and the variety of career paths available to students.

Those experiences can then make their way back into the classroom.

An educator who has walked through a manufacturing facility, talked with employees about their careers, or seen new technology being used in a local workplace has a different story to share with students. They can help students connect what they are learning in school with the opportunities available in their own community.

The week also gives educators time to reflect on what they are seeing and identify what else they want to learn. The 2026 schedule intentionally included time midway through the program for participants to discuss the tours and share additional questions and areas of interest.

Building Connections Across Halifax County

EXCITE Halifax also creates connections between the people preparing students for the future and the organizations that may one day employ them.

Those relationships matter.

When educators know more about local businesses and employers better understand what is happening in local classrooms, it becomes easier to identify opportunities for career exploration, work-based learning, classroom connections, and other partnerships that benefit students.

The SOVA Innovation Hub serves as a home base for the week, with participants beginning each day at the Hub before traveling to industry sites throughout the region. Halifax County Tourism provides transportation for the industry tours.

Investing in Educators—and the Region’s Future Workforce

Through Microsoft TechSpark’s support and the participation of local partners and employers, EXCITE Halifax gives educators something that is difficult to replicate through a presentation or handout: the opportunity to experience the region’s economy firsthand.

Over the course of one week, educators see how technology, manufacturing, engineering, skilled trades, natural resources, innovation, and other fields are shaping Halifax County and the surrounding region.

Most importantly, they leave with new knowledge and connections they can take back to their students.

By helping educators better understand the opportunities available close to home, EXCITE Halifax is helping build stronger connections between education, industry, and the future workforce of Southern Virginia.