Program launches in Brooke, Calhoun, and Braxton County schools, creating new opportunities for students to innovate, lead, and shape the future.
The Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) is partnering with the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative (WVPEC) to expand its ILLLUME (Innovating, Learning, Leading, Uniting, Making, and Experimenting) STEM program into three more West Virginia counties.
Believing that community stability is foundational to national security, CMI2 supports rural and economically disadvantaged communities. The organization equips future generations with advanced STEM skills through programs like ILLUME. This holistic approach strengthens both local resilience and the nation’s defense infrastructure.
“The opportunity to amplify ILLUME’s impact on students and the community throughout West Virginia is tremendous,” said Zenovy Wowczuk, founder of CMI2. “Our program helps these counties prepare students for high-demand STEM and skilled trades careers, which are directly tied to our national security focus.”
The partnership with WVPEC will expand additional hands-on learning opportunities into Brooke, Calhoun, and Braxton County Schools, bringing future-focused education opportunities to even more West Virginia students.
A Shared Vision for Innovation
The ILLUME program is a technology- and innovation-driven initiative designed to reimagine high school curricula in underserved and economically challenged communities. Through real-world projects and collaboration with industry mentors, students develop practical STEM skills, gain increased confidence, and acquire creative problem-solving abilities to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.
By working together, the CMI2 and WVPEC partnership will provide opportunities for students to:
- Innovate with hands-on projects and real-world problem solving.
- Learn new skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
- Lead as changemakers in their schools and communities.
- Unite with peers, educators, and industry mentors.
- Make meaningful contributions through design and creation.
- Experiment with bold ideas in a supportive environment.
Looking Ahead
In mid-August, ILLUME program leaders convened a kickoff meeting on the West Virginia University campus in Morgantown. The meeting brought together superintendents and technology directors from Braxton, Brooke, and Calhoun counties. Mrs. Donna Hoylman Peduto, executive director of the WVPEC, also attended.
“The kickoff meeting was both a planning session and a celebration of the opportunities this initiative will create for students in Brooke, Calhoun, and Braxton counties,” said Walter ‘Wally’ Hatfield, Vice President of Training and Experimentation for CMI2. “By expanding ILLUME in West Virginia, we are not only supporting growth in rural and underserved areas but also leveraging our national security expertise to help drive economic development.”
This three-county expansion marks the next step in a strategic three-year plan that will extend ILLUME to 11 counties across West Virginia by 2028.
With this launch, ILLUME is opening new pathways for students to see themselves as innovators, makers, and future leaders. In the months ahead, the program will introduce tailored curricula that develop practical skills and leadership abilities. Students will participate in hands-on workshops and collaborative projects, gaining experience in creative problem-solving and teamwork.
“West Virginia’s students have the talent and drive to shape the future,” Hatfield added. “What they need are opportunities, and with ILLUME, those opportunities are here.”
