NEW CASTLE — The Superstars in Education and Training awards seek to celebrate programs that contribute to developing the state’s workforce.

Since 1989, the program has been recognizing innovative educational programming. The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate, The Partnership Inc., will announce the 2023 Superstars in Education and Training winners at a reception and ceremony May 8 in Wilmington University’s Doberstein Admissions Center, New Castle.

While many go through the application process, only a handful of winners are selected each year. Prizes are given to one independent training and certificate provider, one higher education program and one high school. Awards of Excellence are also granted to deserving companies.

Those recognized are as follows:

• Jobs for Delaware Graduates. This is a school-to-work transitional program dedicated to helping youth reach academic and economic success. It exposes middle and high school students to emerging careers and higher levels of education and training. Students who participate receive weekly in-class instruction, credit toward graduation, leadership development, community service, career coaching and access to internships, job shadowing and paid work experiences.
• Delaware Technical Community College. The patient care assistant pathway program at the college is a 600-hour, two-year comprehensive course, conducted in partnership with school districts across the state. This certificate-to-associate degree session consists of classroom instruction, lab practicum and supervised activities in clinics, long-term care facilities and other agencies. Students become certified nursing assistants within the first six months, earn a phlebotomy credential midprogram and a patient care technician credential by the end of year two. Upon completion, participants are also eligible to earn up to 11 credits toward a degree program at DelTech.
• Odyssey Charter School. The Food Studies Career and Technical Education Pathway’s goals are for participants to see food as a reflection of society’s values and priorities; to understand the importance of food as a foundation for individual, community and environmental well-being; and to see food as an avenue for empowerment, citizenship and social justice. The feature experience is working in the Hydroponic Learning Lab, where they are introduced to technology through sustainable urban farming. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Odyssey Charter has donated more than 7,000 pounds of produce and distributed more than 6,000 meals to people in need.
• Award of Excellence recipients were the Delaware Skills Center and Early College School at Delaware State University.

Leaders from the education, business and nonprofit sectors, as well as elected officials, will make appearances during the ceremony May 8. The cost is $45 for chamber members and $60 for nonmembers. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For information or to register, visit dscc.com.