Students at Prince Edward County High School (PECHS) are getting hands-on experience in a real microbiology lab thanks to a grant from the Dominion Foundation.

The grant money funded a microbiology lab Hampden Sydney College (H-SC) and Longwood University professors and students are using to teach the Prince Edward students about microbes. The foundation, as well as officials from H-SC and Longwood, visited Tuesday to see the program in action.

During class, students examined plates of bacteria they swabbed from various locations during the previous week. They compared characteristics, such as size, shape, color and opacity of the microbes formed.

One group compared bacteria from toilets and urinals. Another looked at metal bleachers compared to wooden ones. Other groups formed other comparisons, with each group having its own objective.

“Toilet water is safe to drink,” Stephen Patton said while comparing swabs.

“Don’t drink the urinal water,” warned Prescott Stewart, a member of Stephen’s group.

Longwood Assistant Professor of Biology Amorette Barber and H-SC Elliott Assoc. Professor of Biology and honors program director Michael Wolyniak lead the class comprised of about 20 PECHS juniors and seniors studying biology and chemistry.

Jason Halmo, a senior at H-SC, is the student director for the PEC Microbiology Institute. Halmo, along with two other students from his school, joins Barber and Wolyniak one day a week for seven weeks to teach high school students.

“It’s a great learning opportunity for both high school students and college students,” Halmo said.

He said it has given him leadership experience as well as an opportunity to learn how to teach. Because H-SC does not have a teaching program, this is a unique opportunity for the students there.

The program is important, Halmo said, adding he hopes to see Longwood students become more involved with the program.

Tom Wohlfarth, senior vice president of regulatory affairs at Dominion Virginia Power, presented the two colleges and the high school with a check for $25,000 during the class visit.

Wohlfarth said Dominion is a company based on science and technology and encouraged the high school and college students to consider internships and careers with the company.

“In general, everybody seems to be really engaged with it, PECHS biology and chemistry teacher Sarah Fulcher said.

Fulcher said the students enjoy the hands-on activities — including the opportunity to taste leaves.

Though it’s too soon to say if this class will change the paths of the students taking it, Fulcher is hopeful it will light a spark for her younger students.

“You never know what you’re going to do in the future,” she said. “You never know where you’re going to find something you enjoy.”

This story has been corrected to reflect the proper spelling of Pieter Green’s name.