Virginia Tech Center for Rural Education

SEE VT 2026!🧡❤️

We look back on our time in Riva at the with so much gratitude for .bonazzi. From welcoming us at the train station on day one to the group hug at our final goodbye (and countless unforgettable moments in between), she has been a mentor, guide, problem-solver, and friend.
Thank you for every seen and unseen effort, for caring so deeply about our students, and for making this experience so special. We couldn’t do it without you!❤️ THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION FOR CECILIA🫶

Shout-out post to ! Study abroad takes a lot (a lot) of planning and organizing: trains, planes, buses, hotels, museums, tours, translations, meals, and more! Equally important is providing students with a meaningful experience …not simply a vacation. For us, this meant thoughtful excursions and visits in and with rural communities. Our goal is to provide rural students with an opportunity not only to “see the world” but to see themselves in it. Josh led a course that allowed them to do just that! They considered the role of place in identity development and produced outstanding research projects looking at local/global food systems and agribusiness, health and wellness, museums and storytelling, psychological safety, and religion. Oh, and Josh did this while also working on his own little research project (aka dissertation!). He soon heads to NC State for his next great adventure, but he does so having left an indelible mark at Virginia Tech, including at the in Switzerland.

I just wish we had more fun together!😅 With love & gratitude, Amy🧡❤️🇨🇭🫶

We understood the assignment!✌️😝 ❤️🧡

We learned another story of rural sustainability at the Ethnographic Museum of the Muggio Valley. Unlike a traditional museum, the valley itself displays elements of the rural past, including a restored snow cellar (nevère) and chestnut drying hut (graa). As the museum society’s president Silvio introduced us to Cabbio and the Valle di Muggio, we were reminded of our own rural places in the US and impressed by another model of preserving heritage and sustaining rural places. As our resident monument expert put it, they build community rather than just another space to house artifacts. Our thoughts about securing rural futures will linger long after we leave.

This past semester, students in Rural Belonging in Local and Global Contexts considered the dynamic relationships between self, identity, and place. What is rural? What does it mean to be from a rural place? What are the strengths of rural communities, and how can we sustain them? And now, for the next two weeks, we turn our attention to the global through a study abroad experience in southern Switzerland in partnership with !

We have spent the past several days learning about rural sustainability in Valposchiavo, a valley in the canton of Graubünden, with an incredible story of rural innovation and community wealth. Inspired by the transformative work of , Polo Poschiavo and other partners show what’s possible when communities prioritize safeguarding rural futures. For example, through a valley-wide initiative—100% Valposchiavo—farmers, industry partners, and community members value local goods and resources, such as the buckwheat ground at a local mill that we used to make a regional dish called pizzoccheri. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a rare example to see rural highlighted on a global stage. We encourage you to learn more about the work being done in this beautiful valley.

Oh, and we also saw a glacier! 🏔️

TODAY!!

Join us on Reading Day, May 7th 3-5pm, for our end of the year celebration! Pizza and popsicles. See y’all there!
RSVP: https://forms.gle/mamkHAUxUdCYcqCM8

Join us on Reading Day, May 7th 3-5pm, for our end of the year celebration! Pizza and popsicles. See y’all there!
RSVP: https://forms.gle/mamkHAUxUdCYcqCM8

Important OpEd about rural school funding by Dr. Keith Perrigan

School superintendent: Education funding falls short in rural Virginia The state’s school funding formula does not necessarily reflect the reality of the communities we live in.

We are still glowing from our 2026 Rural Education Summit.🤩 Thanks to the K12 educators, colleagues, students, and community partners who joined us! (📸Becca Halm)