FAIRMONT — Since 2022, the PRIDE Academy of Pierpont Community and Technical College has been helping young students with developmental disabilities.
PRIDE, which stands for Pierpont Rapid Intellectual Disabilities Education, was launched with a $150,000 grant from the Benedum Foundation. It’s housed in Pierpont’s Gaston Caperton Center.
The academy will hold an open house from 4-8 p.m. Feb. 2 at the center, which is located at 501 W. Main Street, Clarksburg. The open house is for Fall 2024 registration.
“It’s a college experience,” PRIDE director Darin Walker said. “Our students cook and clean and do shopping on their own.”
“We do a lot of field trips. It’s about independence and it’s really about not being left out.”
One of those students is his daughter, Hannah Walker, 23, who enjoys the interaction and PRIDE doings, day-to-day.
Walker and his wife and Hannah’s mom, Jennifer, donated $5,000, in fact, to create the Hannah Walker Scholarship Fund for the benefit of future students coming into the PRIDE program.
“I would hate to see a student miss out because of financial hardship,” he said.
During the open house, students will meet with the PRIDE Academy staff, get an overview of the program and tour the campus.
“We understand that every student’s needs are different,” said Michelle Graham, a PRIDE instructor.
“We will meet them where they are and help them along their journey of independence.”
First-year students learn basic life skills, and second-year students earn vocational certificates.
Applications and resources for tuition assistance will be available.
Visit https://www.pierpont.edu/workforce-continuing-education/pride-academy/ to learn more.
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