Grayson College awarded NSF Grant

Grayson College has been awarded $200,000 from the National Science Foundation to address worker shortages in the advanced manufacturing sector in Texoma. The grant runs from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2020 (estimated) and is the first NSF grant the college has received.

The project evolved from a 2015 study commissioned by the regional workforce board and area economic development corporations to identify best practices that can be replicated to prepare the next generation of employees for advanced manufacturing careers.

 “With the input and support of the Texoma Advanced Manufacturing Task force, led by Mark Anderson of Emerson Fisher Control, Sherman and Denison High Schools, Workforce Solutions of Texoma, SEDCO, DDA and other collaborative partners, this competitive grant award will create early college credit and awareness of exciting careers in our local industries,” said Steve Davis, Dean of Workforce Education at Grayson College.

The grant is designed to expand the pipeline of skilled employees by implementing the New Blue Academy, a comprehensive career awareness and advanced technological education initiative targeting dual enrollment high school students in rural north Texas.

During this project, perceptions of middle-skill jobs will be enhanced through the promotion of technical careers among 9,200 high school students in the Texoma area. It will boost the Advanced Technical Education (ATE) pipeline by developing an industry-designed dual-credit ATE curriculum offered in 21 high schools that will permit students to simultaneously jump-start their college education and a career. Successes will be shared with community colleges through conferences and social media sources, such as the ATE Conference, Mentor Connect, Hi-TEC, and ATECentral.com. 

 Upon completion of the program a student will receive 41 college credit hours, a Basic and an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Certificate, an experiential internship, and potential employment with an industry partner. A plan to incentivize employers and students to complete the remaining 19 hours for an A.A.S. Degree in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies will be developed.

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