Jan 6 2011
Dominion Foundation, the charitable funding division of Dominion Resources, will enable the students of Virginia Highlands Community College to commence their day with a freshly brewed coffee from an environment-friendly, solar-powered coffee shop.
The $30,000 funding will be utilized for developing the Wolf Grounds coffee shop run by the students within the college campus.
The funding will be utilized by the not-for-profit coffee shop within the college to install solar hot water and solar PV systems, and to procure 100% organic and re-usable products benefiting the local companies. The project will enable a number of students from different disciplines to have first-hand knowledge in designing and building solar systems, maintaining them and managing the repairs. The project has plans to involve around 200 students directly from study modules such as designing, ecology, air-conditioning and heating, energy technology and electricity, business, web-design, drafting and marketing in the project. The coffee shop to be located in the Learning Resource Building, which homes the auditorium, library, class rooms and business division of the college will allow the visitors, faculties and students to understand the energy-efficient and eco-friendly measures incorporated at the coffee shop. The coffee shop to be opened in April this year will function with the involvement of the students.
According to Ron Proffitt, President of Virginia Highlands, the grant will enable the students to gain first hand knowledge in starting and managing a business with the college premises under the watchful eyes of the college management.