Wednesday · October 28, 2026 · Abingdon, Virginia

Your region.
Your ideas.
Build what comes next.

Name: Southwest Virginia AI Student Leadership Symposium
Start: 2026-10-28T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-10-28T15:00:00-04:00
Location: Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

Southwest Virginia AI Student Leadership Symposium

How can AI strengthen human learning, well-being, and opportunity in Southwest Virginia? Bring your voice. Build an answer together.

Get your laptop ready →Explore the team challenge

When

Wednesday, October 28, 2026
9:00 AM–3:00 PM Eastern

Students arrive at 8:30 AM. Business and community leaders join at 11:45 AM.

Where

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
1 Partnership Circle, Abingdon, VA 24210

Directions

Who

High school student leaders across Southwest Virginia, teachers, and business, community, and higher-education leaders.

Hosted by Advanced Learning Partnerships, Washington County Public Schools, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, CGI.

Save the Date, Save the World

Your voice belongs
at the AI table.

Explore how AI is changing learning, creativity, relationships, and future careers. Share your concerns and ideas with people shaping the region’s future.

Identify workforce and community needs that schools can help address. Connect with education, business, and community leaders, then turn the conversation into something you can try.

Appalachia Built This brings the hands-on challenge: students and teachers work with a community “client” to build a small, useful solution. CGI volunteers circulate to help when teams get stuck. You do not need to arrive knowing how to code.

The day at a glance

From questions to working ideas.

High-level agenda; session times and speakers are subject to change.

8:30 AM
Student arrival
Refreshments, readiness survey, and laptop setup help.
9:00 AM
Student summit
Explore AI hopes, concerns, learning, creativity, and careers. Watch two CGI technologists tackle the same challenge in the morning build race.
11:45 AM
Working lunch
Business and community leaders join students for conversation, student presentations, and the build race reveal. Lunch is included.
Afternoon
Build something real
Keynotes and the Appalachia Built This team challenge: students, teachers, and community clients turn a regional problem into a working first version. CGI volunteers help along the way.
Before 3:00 PM
Show, reflect, and look ahead
Selected teams demonstrate their work. Discuss what it means and what comes next for Southwest Virginia.

The morning leadership roundtable is invitation-only. General business and community participation begins at 11:45 AM.

Build for someone.
Learn with everyone.

The afternoon challenge is chosen at the event. Until then, explore examples of problems you could solve and test your tools.

Listen to your client

Who needs help? What gets in their way? Agree on one outcome that would make a difference.

Make one useful version

Ask AI to help you plan, build, test, and improve. Use fictional sample data and keep the project on your device.

Show what changed

Demonstrate the problem, your working solution, and what you would improve next. Everyone can contribute ideas and testing.

Open the team build guide →

Before you come.

What should I bring?

A charged personal laptop and charger. The organizer’s preparation target is Windows 10/11, macOS 13+, or Linux, with at least 8 GB RAM and 10 GB free space; check your chosen tool’s requirements too. Test setup before the event because venue Wi-Fi is shared. Follow the readiness guide.

What if I need a laptop or AI access?

Loaner laptops will support the activity. The event help desk will handle equipment and AI access support. If you bring your own laptop, prepare and test a tool you are permitted to use. You do not need to purchase an individual AI subscription to prepare for the event.

Can I use a school Chromebook?

School-managed devices may block installations or sign-in. Check with your teacher or IT team before event day. Do not bypass school restrictions. The event help desk will handle equipment and access support, with loaner laptops supporting the activity.

How do students participate safely?

ALP is coordinating student participation, permissions, and supervision arrangements. Follow your school’s guidance and your AI provider’s age, account, and permission requirements. Adult supervision does not override those rules. An eligible adult operates adult-only tools; students can lead the ideas, design, and testing. Use fictional data, not student names, records, or photos.

Do business and community leaders attend all day?

Join at 11:45 AM for the working lunch and afternoon. You do not need to attend the morning Student Summit. Lunch is included. Bring a charged laptop and your perspective on regional needs.

Share the invitation

Bring your community
into the conversation.

Download the organizers’ audience flyers to share with your school, colleagues, or community partners.

These are the organizers’ October 16 flyers. Detailed session times remain subject to change. Check the current agenda and laptop readiness guidance before attending. Loaner laptops and help-desk support are available for the activity; follow the current readiness page for preparation guidance.