Dan River Information Technology Academy

The Dan River Information Technology Academy (DRITA) is a three-year, grant-funded program for ninth grade high school students who are interested in computers and/or pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The overall goal of DRITA is to provide opportunities for participating students to:

develop solid information technology skills;
acquire the background and encouragement needed to enable them to pursue higher education in STEM and other fields in which advanced IT knowledge is needed; and
develop the non-technical skills needed for success in the workplace.

Thirty-two ninth grade students are recruited each year from Halifax, Henry and Pittsylvania Counties and the cities of Danville and Martinsville. Applicants from groups currently under-represented in the information technology field; that is, African-American, Hispanic and/or Native American are especially encouraged to apply.

DRITA is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through their Information Technology Experiences for Students & Teachers (ITEST) program. There are currently 62 ITEST-funded sites throughout the nation. DRITA is the first ITEST program to be established in Virginia.

The program is sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), a regional partnership working to attract the talent and technology needed for economic transformation in Southside Virginia. IALR houses state-of-the-art classroom and computer facilities, as well as four research laboratories.

Partners with the IALR for the DRITA project include: Danville Public Schools, Halifax County Schools, Henry County School, Pittsylvania County Schools, Danville Community College, Virginia Tech, Danville Science Center, Danville Church-Based Tutorial Program, Southside Community Advocates for Learning Excellence, United for Progress (SCALE-UP), Danville Boys & Girls Club, Girl Scouts, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, and Danville/Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.