The Shadow
Clifton Forge, Va. (VR) –In mid-March, Matt McGraw, Chief Workforce Officer at Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC), traveled to London and Paris on a study abroad trip funded by the Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Hammond, Sr. Faculty Development Grant. This grant, established by the MGCC Educational Foundation in memory of Mr. Hammond’s parents, supports full-time faculty in broadening their expertise through educational travel.
This opportunity aligns with MGCC’s mission to provide innovative learning experiences that offer global perspectives, especially to students from rural areas. During his trip, McGraw visited key cultural landmarks in London and Paris and contributed to a project integrating Virtual Reality (VR) technology into classroom education.
“Through this project, students can now virtually walk the streets of these historic cities, visit renowned museums, and experience the culture in a way that textbooks alone cannot provide,” McGraw said.
The content McGraw captured will allow students to virtually visit sites like the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, and the Louvre. The content will be integrated into the new curriculum for MG-TEC IT Academy, with classes starting this fall, as well as MGCC’s Information Systems Technology coursework.
The grant also supported the creation of training resources for future study abroad programs, helping students learn essential skills for international travel, such as cultural etiquette and navigating transportation systems. These resources will support the continuation of MGCC’s Gateway to Europe program, which will take students to London and Paris again in 2026.
For more information about MG-TEC IT Academy, visit www.mgcc.edu/mg-tec. Registration for the fall semester closes on May 1 for high school students.
Interested in MGCC’s Information Systems Technology programs? Contact Student Services today at 540-863-2820 to create your academic plan and secure your spot in popular classes!
Enrollment for Summer and Fall semesters opens April 1.
