BLACKSTONE, Va. –
The Virginia National Guard and Virginia Department of Military Affairs cut a ribbon to symbolically open STARBASE Blackstone, The VNG’s second STARBASE Academy location, Aug. 8, 2025, at the VNG’s Blackstone Readiness Center in Blackstone, Virginia.
STARBASE is a premier Department of Defense educational program aimed at educating youth through hands on science, technology, engineering, art and design and math activities. The goal is to inspire and educate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and expand their awareness of future STEAM careers while providing a model and vision for STEAM education to local school districts and educators.
“Today we are proud to be participating in a ribbon cutting for our second STARBASE Academy here in Blackstone, which will service not just the town of Blackstone, but all of the surrounding counties,” said Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “The Virginia National Guard remains deeply committed to programs such as STARBASE to strengthen the relationships with our local communities.”
The first Virginia STARBASE location, STARBASE Winchester, opened in 2012. Since then, more than 10,000 students have taken part in the program’s activities. The new Blackstone location will partner with public and private schools in the region to serve students in the Town of Blackstone, as well as Nottoway, Lunenburg, Brunswick, Amelia, Dinwiddie and Prince Edward Counties.
The Blackstone location is led by Nikole Johnson, a career educator with roots in Blackstone. Dr. Tara Dunbar serves as the deputy directer and instructor, and Lucy Willis is also an instructor. Both Dunbar and Willis are also seasoned educators. Jaylin Bryant rounds out the Blackstone STARBASE team as office manager.
“What an incredible day to celebrate a truly meaningful milestone,” said Johnson. “This moment is not just about launching a program. It’s about the future of our children and the future of Southside Virginia.”
Also participating in the ribbon cutting were retired Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and retied Col. Everton E. Nevers, the DMA Chief of Staff. The gathering for the event included local government and public school leaders, as well as Virginia Del. Lee Ware, whose district includes Nottoway and Amelia Counties.
The Blackstone STARBASE Academy is housed in the Blackstone Readiness Center, where in October 2024, ground was officially broken on the new academy during a ceremony featuring Ring, Nevers and Johnson. Their classroom will see 5th grade students conducting experiments and learning technologies, including robotics, engineering and even 3D printing, all with the goal of inspiring the students and building a bench of future innovators.
“STARBASE is designed to inspire and equip our students to pursue a future in science, technology, engineering, art and design and math,” said Johnson. “Our goal is simple yet powerful: To help students see how what they learn connects to the real world. At this age, one spark today can grow into a scientist, an engineer, a coder, innovator, artist or designer of tomorrow.”
The program also exposes children to a relationship partnering civilian and military leaders, something Ring says is vital to fostering a sense of civic engagement.
“By exposing students to positive military and civilian role models, we instill in them a sense of duty, honor, and service – values that are not only essential to military life, but also fundamental to a strong and vibrant community,” said Ring. “By emphasizing the importance of civic engagement, we are helping to develop a generation of leaders committed to making a positive contribution to society.”
The new STARBASE has already hosted students during summer programs, but is scheduled to welcome its first full slate of students in fall 2025.
Read more about STARBASE at https://vngpao.info/STARBASE.
Learn more about DOD STARBASE at https://dodstarbase.org.