SALINEVILLE – The Utica Shale Academy is in contention for a national funding award that highlights forward-thinking methods for career exploration.

The Salineville-based community school is among 10 finalists across the U.S. to potentially receive the Future Forward Schools Prize, a three-year national initiative recognizing middle and high schools that engage youth early in preparing for future careers. According to its website, Building Hope is a national nonprofit that supports the growth and success of innovative schools, and it partnered with Britebound (formerly American Student Assistance) to award $250,000 each year to five schools that help shape futures by creating innovative, scalable models for career exploration and career-connected learning. The goal is to ensure that students — particularly those from under-resourced communities — have access to opportunities that help them understand their strengths, interests, and potential career pathways.

Finalists were selected through a competitive application process and were among more than 180 schools in 36 states, while the top five will be named in early May.

USA Superintendent Bill Watson said the funding would support the Appalachian Applied Skills Training Project, which would provide students with hands-on technical training in wheel service, alignment certification and preventative vehicle maintenance and lead to transferable, in-demand skills and the flexibility to explore career pathways.

“It’s a nationwide grant that goes to five schools for innovative workforce development ideas,” Watson explained of the award program. “We made the top 10 and the top five will get funded.”

If approved, plans are to implement a tire certification program through Snap-On and students will learn how to change, balance, and rotate tires using vehicles within the school’s transport van fleet.

“We would buy tires for the fleet and do service in-house so kids get real-world experience,” he added, saying the tires would be purchased this summer while the program would get underway over the next school year.

USA currently includes more than 170 students in grades 7-12 and its campus is comprised of the Hutson Building, the Energy Training Center, the Williams Collaboration Center and the exterior and new interior welding sites along East Main Street, as well as the Utica Shale Academy Community Center that is housed on Church Street. The community school is a dropout recovery and retention facility that focuses on career-tech education for at-risk pupils and provides certifications to enter the workforce.

It was one of three Ohio institutions who made the short list and the others include Midview Local School District of Grafton and Old Brook High School Parma Campus of Parma. Rounding out the list were Comp Sci High of Bronx, N.Y.; UP Academy Dorchester of Boston, Mass.; Kenilworth Science and Technology Academy of Baton Rouge, La.; New Mexico School of the Arts of Santa Fe, N.M.; New Orleans Marine and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) of New Orleans, La.; Solid Rock Community School of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; and Donna J. Beasley Technical Academy of Lehigh Acres, Fla.

The Future Forward Schools Prize is available to all grades K-12 public, charter, and private schools that have been in operation for at least two years and offer a career exploration and discovery program serving middle and/or high school students. In addition, schools must serve a student population that is at least 50-percent under-resourced or underrepresented — and includes students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and students with special needs. Recipients will also join the Future Forward Schools Fellowship, which provides retreats, pro bono advisory support, and a national community of practice to help scale successful models serving students from under-resourced communities.

For information about the Future Forward Schools Prize, visit www.buildinghope.org/about-building-hope-impact-fund/future-forward-schools-prize-and-fellowship-program.