THE VIRGINIA GEOGRAPHIC ALLIANCE (VGA) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ENDOWMENT PROGRAM. THE VGA CONDUCTS A STATEWIDE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT HELPS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO IMPROVE GEOGRAPHY TEACHING AND LEARNING. VGA'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF GEOGRAPHY TEACHING AND LEARNING AT ALL LEVELS OF THE VIRGINIA EDUCATION SYSTEM. GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF A SOUND LIBERAL EDUCATION FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, EFFECTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND THE APPLICATION OF GENERAL CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND SPECIFIC GEOSPATIAL THINKING SKILLS IN MANY CURRENT AND EMERGING CAREERS.