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  • Fort Hays Tech | Northwest Receives Generous Scholarship Grant from Gene Haas Foundation to Support

    Goodland, KS. (10/10/2024)  –  Fort Hays Tech | Northwest is proud to announce the Gene Haas Foundation has awarded the college a significant scholarship grant aimed at supporting students pursuing careers in manufacturing and related fields. The individual scholarship awards, ranging from $500 to $2,500, will provide essential financial assistance to aspiring CNC machinists and technicians, enabling them to achieve their educational goals and enter a rapidly growing industry.

    Fort Hays Tech | Northwest's focus on developing Advanced Manufacturing as part of their Mechanical Engineering Technology program has been a major priority since 2021, given the rapid advancements in the industry. The program aims to equip students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for engineering technology. Through a hands-on approach that integrates drafting and applied mathematics, students gain proficiency in industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and Inventor.

    The program incorporates live projects from the community and industry, allowing students to tackle real-world design and engineering challenges. They learn to reverse engineer, design, and develop solutions, utilizing the program's advanced manufacturing lab—an 1,800 sq. ft. facility equipped with multi-axis CNC machines and state-of-the-art 3D printers—to prototype and create working models of their designs.

    Graduates emerge with the knowledge and experience necessary for successful careers in various engineering and manufacturing roles throughout Kansas and the surrounding region. Additionally, the program is working to strengthen the community’s capacity to support and grow the advanced manufacturing industry locally.

    “We are incredibly grateful to the Gene Haas Foundation for their generous support,” said Mike Zimmerman, instructor. “This scholarship funding will make a profound difference in the lives of our students, allowing them to gain the skills necessary for success in the manufacturing sector.”

    For more information about the Mechanical Engineering Technology program, please visit www.fhnw.edu

    Gene Haas and FHNW

  • Enrollment Jumps Again at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest

    Enrollment Jumps Again at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest - Goodland, KS. (10/2/2024)  –  For the second straight year, Fort Hays Tech | Northwest experienced a noticeable increase in enrollment, according to latest report released this week by the Kansas Board of Regents.

    According to the report, which provides a breakdown of enrollment across Kansas public higher education institutions, enrollment headcount at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest was up 3.7% from the same time last year. The increase marks the highest enrollment for the college in the past six years, and marks a return to the steady enrollment growth the college experienced prior to the pandemic. Current enrollment at the college stands at 752 enrolled students, with 577 students originating from within Kansas.

  • Affiliation Lands Major Grant

    By FHSU University Communications

    HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University, Fort Hays Tech | North Central, and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest recently secured a $461,840 grant from Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) to help fund start-up costs associated with the implementation of the three institutions’ strategic affiliation. Grant funding will be distributed over the next two years. 

  • Higher Learning Commission approves historic education affiliation

    Higher Learning Commission approves historic education affiliation

     

    7/16/24

    By FHSU University Communications

    HAYS, Kan – June 27 represents a significant milestone for higher education in rural Kansas, as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) officially approved the Change of Control application filed jointly by Fort Hays State University, North Central Kansas Technical College, and Northwest Kansas Technical College. This approval will result in the strategic affiliation of these three institutions, allowing them to come together under the Fort Hays banner to better serve the region’s people, businesses, and communities. FHSU President Mason expressed her gratitude for the support received from various stakeholders in finalizing this affiliation plan.

     

    Under this new affiliation, North Central Kansas Technical College will become Fort Hays

    Tech | North Central. Northwest Kansas Technical College will be renamed Fort Hays Tech | Northwest. The Higher Learning Commission's comprehensive assessment process included a thorough evaluation of academic offerings, governance, mission, finances, resources, and all degree levels offered by the institutions.

     

    The vision of an affiliation between the three institutions emerged from discussions between President Mason, Fort Hays Tech | North Central President Eric Burks, and Fort Hays Tech | Northwest President Ben Schears. Each of these leaders recognized the urgent need for higher education in rural Kansas to address significant and growing threats to the future prosperity of their shared service region. These threats include an aging population, an expected 15 percent decline in college-bound students by 2029, and a 33 percent decline in Kansas’s rural population by 2064.

     

    “What an exciting time for our region and state! We know for rural Kansas to prosper, every individual must have the opportunity to develop their talents, skills, and interests,” Burks said. “By our three institutions working more closely together, we will be able to enhance our current offerings, simplify our process, and create new opportunities to prepare students and generate workforce for our area businesses and communities.”

     

    With the HLC's approval in place, over 20 affiliation implementation teams are now tasked with integrating and optimizing various aspects of the institutions to serve students, businesses, and communities better.

     

    “Our work in the days ahead will focus on integrating our academic programs and student services and on expanding our already robust industry and community connections to increase opportunities for our students, fueling entrepreneurship in rural Kansas, and meeting the workforce needs of the businesses and communities we serve,” Schears said.

     

    A series of “Affiliation Launch” events are scheduled in the hometowns of each of the three campuses. The first event will be at the old soccer field on the campus of Fort Hays Tech | Northwest (Goodland) at 5 p.m. on September 10. The downtown pavilion in Hays will be the site of launch event number two on September 12. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a “ribbon cutting” hosted by the Hays Chamber. Fort Hays Tech | North Central will host the final event at 5 p.m. on September 14 in downtown Beloit. These events will celebrate the historic partnership and allow the community to learn more about the future of higher education in rural Kansas.

     

    For more information about this transformative affiliation partnership, please visit

     

    Fort Hays Tech | Northwest

    https://www.nwktc.edu/affiliation

     

    Fort Hays State University

    https://www.fhsu.edu/president/affiliation/.

     

     

    – end –

    3 Institution Logos

  • NORTHWEST TECH ANNOUNCES SPRING SEMESTER HONORS LISTS

    Goodland, KS. (06/17/2024)  – Northwest Kansas Technical College has announced the names of full-time students who earned spots on the President’s and Dean’s honor lists for the 2024 Spring semester.

    Students on the President’s Honor List earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average while students on the Dean’s Honor List earned a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99.

    President’s Honor List

    Colby Kansas             Escobar, Kimberlyn Marilyn

    Burlington, CO            Eckhardt, Abigail Laura

    Goodland, KS              Ihrig, Bryson Lee

    Levant, KS                   Siebert, Karolina

    Ewa Beach, HI             Valdez Asato, Cheylene L

    Goodland, KS              Bostwick, Samara R

    Goodland, KS              Coumerilh, Hannah

    Uganda                        Bisaso, Isaac Samuel Owen

    Kanorado, KS              Ford, Cameron Isaiah

    Colby Kansas             Van Eaton, Carson J

    Goodland, KS              Cortes, Jose Luis

    Holyoke, CO                Hielscher, Dylan Eric

    Syracuse, KS              Ramos Hernandez, Martin

    Scott City, KS              Zarate, Alencio C

    Hiawatha, KS               Anderson, Anthony J

    Metairie, LA                 Spahn, Jacob M

    Colby, KS                    Franz, Jacob Carter

    Sheridan Lake, CO      Wilson, Ty Curtis

    Selden, KS                  Brantley, Sara Jo

    Australia                     Holt, Dylan Nathaniel

    Smicksburg, PA          Miller, Joshua Nathaniel

    Colby, KS                    Schmidt, Rayanna Mary

    Goodland, KS              Arnold, Tess Darleen

    Goodland, KS              Blochlinger, Hadyn J

    Goodland, KS              Dologuin, Yan Blaire

    Colby, KS                    Kersenbrock, Mason John

    Colby, KS                    Stramel, Nathan J

    Gillette, WY                 Hill, Lucas Richard

    Goodland, KS              Hitchens, Mason Andrew

    Monument, KS             Hopson, Jonathan W

    Goodland, KS              Cacavio, Rhiannon Francis

    Colorado Springs, CO             Carlson, Dillon Wesley

    Louise, TX                   Galetti, Beau Eli

    North Platte, NE           Kleinow, Tayler Allen

    Saint Francis, KS        Mills, Elijah

    Lenora, KS                  Scott, Abigail G

    Tribune, KS                 Smith, Jesse Daniel

    Goodland, KS              Blochlinger, Haley E

    Evans, CO                   Torres, Faith K

    Brewster, KS               Valdez Dominguez, Selene

    Hays, KS                     Cadoret, William A

    Grainfield, KS              Heier, Ryan Joseph

    Akron, CO                    Jesse, Connor E

    Hays, KS                     Pfannenstiel, Colton A

    Glasco, KS                  Rice, Gabriel E

    Swink, CO                   Traver, Brodie M

    Brewster, KS               Valdez Dominguez, Adriana Lizeth

    Goodland, KS              Vargas Rojas, Saul

    Goodland, KS              Dominguez, Federico Hernandez

    Goodland, KS              Garcia, Asaph

    Goodland, KS              Kent, Darian Michael

    Goodland, KS              Ralph, Chaye Elizabeth Dano

    Wallace, KS                 Shaw, Kenli R

    Goodland, KS              Terry, Bryson Dean

    Goodland, KS              Vars, Michael Raymond​​

    Dean’s Honor Roll List

    Little Rock, AR            Robinson, Khasen Karon

    Linwood, KS                Johnson, Wyatt Henry

    Goodland, KS              Baehler, Bentley D

    Goodland, KS              Pena, Emilio Gabriel

    Burlington, CO            Kaiser, Ethan Bailey

    Lakin, KS                     White, Edan B

    Goodland, KS              Lockhart, Kerrek R

    Goodland, KS              Schears, Sydney

    Garden City, KS           Nunez, Brandon L

    Oakley, KS                  Bosserman, Citori Janae

    Wiley, CO                    Williams, Garret Owen

    McCook, NB                 Hunter, Brendan D

    South Africa                Maila, Lucky Motlakaro

    Idalia, CO                    Towns, Kye Brooks

    Mongolia                     Batsuuri, Otgonbayar

    Wichita Falls, TX         Penny, Tyjhanae Louise

    Titusville, FL               Watson, Cerena Ca'linda

    Tribune, KS                 Vestal, Alayna Nykole

    Wallace, KS                 Shaw, Rook James Austin

    Goodland, KS              Terry, Hayden B

    Goodland, KS              Price, Kody Amedie

    McClave, CO               Ward, Lucas Michael

    Goodland, KS              Whitlock, Nathaniel Thomas

    Limon, KS                   Tacha, Jordyn N

    Goodland, KS              Gotchall, Alyson Christine

    Quinter, KS                  Albin, Brady Lane

    Goodland, KS              Johnson, Heather J

    Goodland, KS              Lalicker, Matthew

    Sheridan Lake, CO      Shalberg, Kyler Davis

    Gem, KS                      Macki, Andrew David Dennis

    Burlington, CO            Mann, Brackford Logan

    Atlanta, GA                  Jones, Kyle Everett

    Leoti, KS                     Marchant Domingu, Christian D

    Goodland, KS              Peter, Witton

    Bethune, CO                Saenz Vega, Rogelio

    Garden City, KS           Valdespino, Marco A

    South Africa                Cornelissen, Daniel

    Tempe, AZ                   Castro, Micah I

    Kenya                          Kibet, Dennis

    Bethune, CO                Walters, Oakley K

    Syracuse, KS              Bustillos, Aaron I

    Atlanta,, KS                 Hervey, Grant E

    Atwood, KS                 McCoy, Mason Earl

    Selden, KS                  Meier, Landon R

    Goodland, KS              Crow, Jarek William

    Holdrege, NE               Wilkins, Erika Ruby

    Goodland, KS              Cousins, Rafe P

    Lamar, Colorado         Reyes, Lauryn J

    Fredonia, AZ                Henderson, Braxton M L

    Goodland, KS              Amthor, Kyler James

    Yuma, CO                    Serl, Jayden Daniel

    Hays, KS                     Grabbe, Wyatt K

    Bradenton, FL             Partida, Amulek Amo

    Pierre, SD                    Seamon, Jacob Andrew

    Vernon, CO                  Linman, Grady W

    Allen, TX                      Conner, Taiden Lee

    North Las Vegas, NV   Carter, Jarbirey K

    El Paso, TX                  Martinez, Ryan Casey

    Goodland, KS              Soto, Pablo

    Meridian, ID                 Hernandez, Cade Dallas

    McCook, NB                 Shafer, Gary A

    Lubbock, TX                Loera, Jaclyn Myka

    Salina, KS                   Hogan, Dawson Ross

    Brazil                           Gigo, Anderson

    South Africa                Thwala, Sibonokuhle

    Fort Morgan, CO          Gliem, Xander Heath Dean

    Goodland, KS              Mcmillan, Samual D

    South Africa                Maja, Kabelo

    Colby Kansas             Meyer, Xaynder Michael

    Goodland, KS              Wolak, Benjamin James 

    The students listed above have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and strive to put forth their best effort with every assignment, test, and exam. These students exemplify the qualities of a true Maverick. Be smart, work hard, and do the right thing!