Community Innovation Fellowships
Connecting students, educators, and community through entrepreneurial projects
These fellowships, funded by a significant grant from the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation, support educators in developing and implementing innovative courses and programs that leverage the resources of the Washington College Innovation Plant.
The awards support equipment, transportation, supplies, and/or internship wages to enable the development and implementation of collaborative courses, internships, programs, and certificate pathways aligned with the Innovation Plant's mission to catalyze educational and economic opportunity through access to cutting-edge tools, technology, expertise, and mentorship.
Investments in local teachers, students, and entrepreneurial opportunities
Community Innovation Fellows' projects demonstrate a clear vision for student learning, clearly defining the valuable skills to be developed in areas such as trades, technologies, and entrepreneurship. They reach and engage a diverse group of students from Washington College and other local high schools and colleges with opportunities to earn college credit, industry certifications, or gain valuable experiential learning through internships or project-based assignments that address real-world challenges. Central to every project is a demonstrated commitment to community impact by addressing a local social issue or fostering innovation within the region.
Fellowship Case Studies
Interpreting Innovation
Educational technologist Raven Bishop of the Washington College Virtual/Augmented Reality Digital Imaging Studio (VARDIS) at Miller Library trains students to create interpretive signage that tells the layered history of 800 High Street, accessible to visitors even as the Innovation Plant building is under construction. The resulting outdoor pathway will connect campus and community through immersive, technology-driven storytelling featuring virtual and augmented reality content. Through paid internships, short-term immersive summer fellowships, and a new 4-credit course, students and community participants will develop skills in graphic design software, photography, photogrammetry and 3D scanning, 360 photography, and virtual and augmented reality development.
Kiln Formed Glass
Patti & Dave Hegland, of Hegland Glass, Chestertown, Maryland, introduce participants to the art and science of glasswork—from beginner techniques to advanced fabrication—through a series of small, beginner-friendly and widely advertised workshops in their downtown studio. The Heglands envision increased accessibility to high-quality fine-craft learning laying the groundwork for establishing Chestertown as a regional hub in fine craft education.
Building Electric Guitars
Alex Herman and Joseph Kreis of Queen Anne's County High School will guide students through the full design-to-production process, integrating CAD/CAM software, CNC machining, and 3D printing, culminating in a playable electric guitar. This high-interest guitar building project, partnered with PRS Guitars for material supplies, will prepare students to take an entry-level, industry-recognized CAD or CAM certification test by the end of the course, further strengthening the Career and Technical Education Program at QACHS.
Funded Fellowships
In its first year, nine fellowships spanned two counties, five schools, and five non-profit or private enterprises. This inaugural cohort is launching initiatives from advanced manufacturing and fine craft to augmented reality—equipping participants with career-ready skills and entrepreneurial knowhow while celebrating the community's cultural and economic heritage.
800 High Street Interpretive Signs
Washington College's Virtual and Augmented Reality Digital Imaging Studio at Miller
Library
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Horizons and Kent County Middle School
Kiln Formed Glass
Introduction, Intermediate, and Advanced, Hegland Glass
Engineering Design and Manufacturing with Electric Guitars
Queen Anne's County High School
Pathways Forward: Workforce Development and
Employment Opportunities
RCM Strategic Consulting and Ewell Enterprises, LLC
From Maker to Market: Makerspace Business Lab
Kent County High School
Empowering Future Innovators: GIS in K-12 Education
Washington College Geospatial Innovation Program
Crafting Resistance: The Politics of Textiles and Fiber Arts
Washington College Department of Political Science
Intro to Advanced Manufacturing Dual Enrollment Course
Chesapeake College