MIDDLETOWN — Educators, students, local officials and state representatives gathered at Laurel Ridge Community College on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of the Future Educators Academy (FEA), a program that advocates believe will positively impact participants and the local workforce.

FEA, a lab school established in partnership with Germanna Community College in Locust Grove, allows high school juniors who wish to become teachers to earn an associate of science in education at no cost by the time they finish high school.

Students who successfully complete FEA will receive guaranteed admission to Mary Baldwin University, Shenandoah University, Mary Washington University and Old Dominion University. More partnerships are pending.

"They'll take that degree, and they will get their bachel

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