FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2026

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Pierpont Community & Technical College welcomed West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey to its Clarksburg Campus Thursday for a ceremonial bill signing that underscored the college’s critical role in preparing West Virginians for long-term, in-demand careers across the state’s energy and manufacturing sectors.

Gov. Morrisey signed House Bill 5381, a comprehensive energy and economic development measure aimed at expanding West Virginia’s power production and supporting workforce growth statewide. During his remarks, Morrisey emphasized the importance of institutions like Pierpont in training students for durable, well-paying jobs that allow graduates to build their futures in West Virginia.

“This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of our state’s economy,” Morrisey said, noting that community colleges play a vital role in connecting education to real-world careers that will last for decades.

Proudly welcoming guests to the event were students from Pierpont’s PRIDE Academy, who provided coffee service throughout the morning as part of their hands-on vocational training. Following the bill signing, Gov. Morrisey spent time meeting with PRIDE Academy students, posing for photos and thanking them for their professionalism and hospitality.

The PRIDE (Pierpont Rapid Intellectual Disabilities Education) Academy is a postsecondary program designed to help adults with intellectual disabilities build independence, job skills and confidence through individualized, hands-on learning. Based at Pierpont’s Clarksburg campus, the program focuses on vocational training, including food service, hospitality and customer service skills, alongside life skills that support long-term employment success.

In his address, Morrisey highlighted the growing demand for energy-related careers and emphasized that today’s students are preparing for jobs that will remain essential well into the future—positions ranging from power generation and infrastructure to advanced manufacturing and technology. He pointed directly to Pierpont as an example of how education and workforce development align to meet those needs.

“The jobs we’re creating today are durable,” Morrisey said. “When we come to places like Pierpont, we get to talk about the future of West Virginia and how training here leads to careers that can last a lifetime.”

Pierpont offers a wide range of workforce-focused programs that support the state’s evolving economy, including technical training, short-term credentials and associate degrees aligned with employer demand. Across all programs, the college’s mission remains the same: to prepare students to enter the workforce job-ready and confident.

The event concluded with a ceremonial signing and remarks celebrating collaboration between education, workforce training and economic development — an approach Pierpont continues to champion as it serves students and employers across North Central West Virginia.

Pierpont Community & Technical College provides accessible, responsive, and high‑quality education to students and businesses across North Central West Virginia. With a strong focus on career readiness and workforce development, Pierpont offers academic programs and industry‑aligned training that create clear pathways to employment. Through this work, the college helps students discover their path while supporting the region’s economic and workforce needs.

Media Contact:

Pierpont Community and Technical College

Office of Marketing and Communications

communications@pierpont.edu