(Wilson, N.C.) – June 24, 2025 – Sallie B. Howard School of Arts and Science (SBH) is proud to announce it has been awarded $120,986 in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation to strengthen its high school biotechnology pathway as part of an expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
Awarded on June 5, 2025, the funding will support hands-on training opportunities, updated lab modules, year-round lab activities, and professional development for teachers. Specifically, SBH will purchase mammalian cell culture equipment to expose students to real-world applications in cell biology and biomedical sciences. This enhancement will better equip students with the skills and experience needed to pursue careers in biotechnology and related fields, while aligning the SBH’s curriculum with the workforce needs of local employers.
“This funding represents an exciting step forward in our mission to prepare students for high-demand STEM careers,” said Dr. JoAnne Woodard, Founder and Executive Director of Sallie B. Howard School. “We are grateful to the Golden LEAF Foundation for investing in our students and the economic future of our region.”
Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton emphasized the broader impact of the project.
“Golden LEAF is proud to support Sallie B. Howard School’s efforts to prepare high school students with the skills required by local and regional biotechnology employers,” said Hamilton. “This project aligns with the talent development strategies of North Carolina’s community colleges and universities to strengthen the workforce pipeline across the BioPharma Crescent in eastern North Carolina.”
Sallie B. Howard School continues to expand its academic offerings to ensure students are prepared for college, careers, and life. To read Golden LEAF’s official announcement in full, click HERE.
For more information on Sallie B. Howard School, visit our website at salliebhowardschool.com.
About the Golden LEAF Foundation
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. For more than 25 years, Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.
About Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science
Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science, a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School, is a free, public charter school founded in 1997 in Wilson, N.C. that serves 1,200 students in grades K-12. Named after the legendary author, educator, playwright and actress Sallie Baldwin Howard, SBHS is dedicated to ensuring that every child – privileged or underprivileged – gets the kind of education that will allow them to become more than they ever thought they would be. With a performing arts-based curriculum, a study abroad program that has brought hundreds of children to nearly all 7 continents, a culturally diverse faculty and student body, and the addition of a high school, Sallie B. Howard School is preparing its students to become 21st century industry leaders both locally and globally.
