RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia is sharing more than $17.3 million from NASA to increase student and faculty engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at community colleges and technical schools.

Officials say the Virginia Community College System is getting funding through the National Space Grant and Fellowship Program.

Thirty-five awards were granted after a solicitation to members of the national Space Grant Consortia. Each award has a two-year performance period and a maximum value of $500,000.

NASA says the winning proposals outlined ways to attract and retain more students from community and technical colleges in STEM education and develop stronger collaborations to increase student access to NASA’s STEM education content.

Virginia officials proposed several programs in collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton and NASA Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore.

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