News / Press Releases

Goodland, KS. (12/07/2023)  – Northwest Tech and the Goodland Ambassadors celebrated the completion and official unveiling of a new campus mural on the northside of the Memorial Student Union. The idea for the project originated from college staff looking to convert some of the brickwork on campus into murals that reflects the heritage and culture of the college and the community.

This project was funded by the Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Mural and Public Art grant program to highlight community gathering spaces and tourist attractions – and provide a welcome message for visitors and residents alike.

“The vibrancy of the mural reflects the rich history of Goodland and the High Plains and it was incredible to have students able to actually create it,” said NT President Ben Schears. “Murals not only draw people into our community, but they create a beautiful and welcoming space for our students.”

The mural was designed by Computer Graphic Technology’s instructor, Gia Brachtenbach and painted by her students. The mural features significant elements that express the character of the community with idea contributions from the Goodland Public Library, High Plains Museum, and High Plains Roosters Chapter #663.

"I am incredibly proud of my students for working diligently on this project,” said Instructor Gia Brachtenbach, “Enduring sunshine, wind, and cold to leave a lasting mark on the Northwest Tech campus for our future students and community to admire.”

Northwest Tech will continue pursuing grant opportunities to create additional artwork on campus over the coming years.

WASHINGTON D.C., December 4, 2023 – Today, the Aspen Institute named Northwest Tech as one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

“Northwest Tech has a strong track record of supporting students as they pursue their passion in the skilled-trades,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears. “We are blessed to be a small campus where we have the opportunity to get to know our students – which has proven critical to helping them succeed.”

Enrollment Jumps at Northwest Tech - Goodland, KS. (09/28/2023)  –  Campus leaders at Northwest Tech suspected it would be a good year for enrollment during dorm move-in weekend back in August. “Applications for housing were up significantly this year, and that is usually a good final indicator of where enrollment would be,” said Jason Showalter, Northwest Tech Vice President of Student Advancement. “We are excited to see so many students on campus this year.”

According to the recent press release from the Kansas Board of Regents, enrollment headcount at Northwest Tech was up 8.9% from the same time last year. When looking back over the past ten years, the college has grown 15.8%. Campus officials credit the increase to marketing and recruiting efforts, strong legislative support, expanded Early College programs with area high schools, and unwavering support from industry partners. “Our business and industry partners are in desperate need of skilled graduates and are really stepping up to address demand,” said Ben Schears, Northwest Tech President. “We have more employers directly sponsoring student’s education at the college than ever before.”

Technical college enrollment growth is not only limited to one technical college, in fact, Kansas technical colleges achieved a significant milestone this year – a decade of enrollment growth across the entire sector. Over the past ten years, Kansas Technical Colleges have consistently demonstrated their dedication to providing high-quality education and training opportunities to students. According to the KBOR enrollment report, the technical college sector has experienced an astounding overall FTE growth of 27.4%. Notably, headcount enrollment has skyrocketed by an impressive 70% during the same period, underscoring the pivotal role these technical colleges play in shaping the future workforce.

Kansas technical colleges express their profound appreciation to their local communities, employers, the Kansas Board of Regents, and state government for their steadfast support over the past decade. This collaborative effort has driven progress and prosperity for Kansas, solidifying the commitment to excellence in education and workforce development.

“We appreciate the support from legislators, high school counselors, industry, communities, and especially our students for choosing Northwest Tech,” said Schears. “We are excited about where enrollment came in this year and are already back on the road, recruiting the next class.”

Read full details of the Kansas Board of Regents report here: https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2023-news-releases/864-board-of-regents-announces-2023-fall-semester-enrollment 

Goodland, KS. (09/20/2023)  –  Northwest Tech was recently awarded grant funding from the National Science Foundation to bring modern advanced manufacturing equipment and introductory training courses to five regional partner high schools - Goodland Jr/Sr High in Goodland, KS; Colby HS in Colby, KS; St. Francis HS in St. Francis, KS; Brewster HS in Brewster, KS; and Flagler HS in Flagler, CO. This project will expose area high school students to advanced manufacturing and ignite their interest in high-wage and high-demand manufacturing fields. The grant is a critical cornerstone of the college's efforts to grow advanced manufacturing in Northwest Kansas.

"This NSF-ATE grant will provide wonderful opportunities to pursue advanced manufacturing and workforce development that Northwest Tech is exceptionally well positioned for. This project will give high school students a breadth of knowledge in manufacturing, engineering, and engineering technologies," said Michael Zimmerman, who leads the Mechanical Engineering Technology department at Northwest Tech.

The journey to expanding an advanced manufacturing ecosystem in Northwest Kansas began in earnest in 2021 when Northwest Tech began the curricular work to launch a new Mechanical Engineering Technology pathway to support regional industry. Shortly after, the college received a $500k grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to design and equip an advanced manufacturing lab complete with additive and subtractive technology. Regional foundations, specifically the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, have provided additional funds for the program's success. The facility has become home to one of the most advanced collegiate labs in the state.

The addition of the Mechanical Engineering pathway at the college, subsequent grant funding, and the new advanced manufacturing lab are significant milestones as the college works to support, expand, and attract advanced manufacturing to Northwest Kansas. The new NSF grant will allow for expanded K-12 partnerships to increase access to hands-on training and equipment with area high school students.

Advanced manufacturing technology continues to evolve rapidly and is expanding across industry nationwide. However, employers in rural areas are experiencing a need for more qualified workers who want to continue to live and work in these rural areas, including Northwest Kansas. To help address these challenges, Northwest Tech developed this NSF - Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant project to bring modern advanced manufacturing equipment and introductory training courses into the hands of area high school students.

"We are excited about the grant and want to express our appreciation to our industry partners and Sen. Jerry Moran for providing significant support for our proposal," said Ben Schears, President of Northwest Tech. "We hope to build on the vibrant advanced manufacturing ecosystem in Kansas and bring more opportunities to Northwest Kansas."

For more information about the Engineering & Drafting Technology program, please visit NWKTC.EDU

**NOTE: The picture on the next page is a MakerBot Method X Carbon Fiber 3D Printer. It is an example of one of the pieces of technology that will be provided to partner high schools through the grant.***

Northwest Tech Earns 2023-2024 Military Friendly^® School Designation

GOODLAND, KS (August 3, 2023)—Northwest Tech announced today that it has earned the 2023-2024 Military Friendly^® School designation.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly^® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard.

The 2023-2024 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly^® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“We strive to be the best at whatever we do, and while we are thrilled with the Silver-Level, we know the steps we need to take to become a Gold-Level college” said Schears. “We will be working this year to improve our processes and continue our efforts to become one of the top-rated military friendly colleges in the nation.”

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.” - Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®.

For more information about Northwest Tech’s student veteran programs, visit Northwest Tech’s website at www.nwktc.edu/students/militaryveterans.

About Military Friendly^® Schools:

The Military Friendly^® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate.

Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

About Northwest Tech:

The mission of Northwest Kansas Technical College, as an institution of higher learning, is to prepare individuals for gainful employment in technical and professional careers, productive personal lives, and lifelong learning.

About Viqtory:

Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.viqtory.com.

For further information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Northwest Kansas Technical College

Jordan Edwards
Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator
Jordan.edwards@nwktc.edu 
785-890-1541

Military Friendly^® Schools:
Kayla Lopez
Senior Director of Military Partnerships
For press inquiries visit: www.militaryfriendly.com/support