News / Press Releases

Goodland, KS. (7/8/2019) With the rising popularity of competitive trap shooting, Northwest Tech has announced they are launching a shooting sports program for students attending the rural technical college. The move to add shooting sports pivots the college towards an extracurricular program that creates stronger ties with area high schools and 4-H shooting sports programs.

Goodland, KS. (05/20/2019)  – The Engineering and Drafting Technology program at Northwest Tech has always been focused on giving their students the most practical, real-world, and hands-on experience during their time in the classroom.

The Engineering and Drafting Technology program at Northwest Tech encompasses a well-balanced curriculum in drafting, design and related subjects by covering two basic areas of mechanical and civil computer-aided drafting. Students develop the necessary job skills and related technical information in an “on the job” atmosphere similar to an actual engineering firm.

This year, with a special thanks to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the program updated their classroom to better simulate industry standards. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation awarded funds to the Engineering and Drafting Technology program to construct a Design and Manufacturing lab. The lab integrates system modeling, interface design, and sensor applications to develop laboratory technologies for practical industry application. The principle goals of the Design and Manufacturing Lab are to educate students in traditional manufacturing processes, understand concepts of the design phase, and become familiar with manufacturing equipment.

The Engineering and Drafting Technology program provides a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree as well as a shorter-term technical certificate. For more information on how to enroll visit our website at www.fhnw.edu or call admissions at 1-800-316-4127.

Goodland, KS. (04/25/2019)  – Northwest Kansas Technical College has selected its inductees to their chapter of the National Technical Honor Society. Students must be nominated by their program instructor and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Students must also be seeking employment in their field of choice and be of good moral character and have good attendance.

The following students will be inducted to NTHS on Monday night, April 29th at 6:30 in the Union. 

Matthew Rippen – Auto Technology

Kevin Saenz – Mobile Applications and Gaming

Ussiel Gallegos – Computer Graphics Tech

Chandler Gerk – Precision Ag

Bryan Veleta – Diesel Technology

Brandon Beloti – Business Technology 

Raymond Robinson – Diesel Technology

Brandy Ballentine – Crime Scene Investigation

Lindsay Bauman – Respitory Therapy

Shamariah Harding – Precision Agriculture

Savannah Bassett – Respitory Therapy 

Pierce Fisher – Electrical Technology

Wyatt McCallum – Diesel Technology

Brett Gerbitz – Crime Scene Technology

 Kendrick Quick – Auto Technology

Heather Williams – Cosmetology 

The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is an honor society for outstanding career and technical students of workforce vocational education institutions in the United States. NTHS began in 1984 as the National Vocational-Technical Honor Society at H.B. Swofford Career Center, Spartanburg County, South Carolina. In 2003, the board of directors unanimously agreed to change the name of the organization from the National Vocational-Technical Honor Society to the National Technical Honor Society.

Today NTHS serves over 4,500 member schools, both secondary and post-secondary, and has a footprint in all 50 states, with chapters expanding into the Bahamas, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Guam. NTHS honors the achievements of leading career and technical education students, provides scholarships, and cultivates excellence in today's highly competitive, skilled workforce. Its fiscal year runs with the general school calendar, August 1 - July 31. The Jon H. Poteat Scholarship is the largest scholarship fund for NTHS. In April 2018, over $225,000 was awarded through the Jon H. Poteat Scholarship Fund, each equaling $1,000.

Loftin Announces Retirement

Goodland, KS. (04/30/2019)  – After 36 years of service at Northwest Kansas Technical College, Robert Loftin has recently announced he will be retiring.

The Goodland community has landed a class member in the upcoming Leadership Kansas 2019 program. Goodland native Jason Showalter has been selected amidst a wide field of candidates to join this year’s class, which begins in April.

Leadership Kansas has a long history in Kansas and is among the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country. The purpose of the program is to serve as a catalyst for creating awareness of relevant statewide issues facing Kansas. The selection process aims to identify individuals who are already serving in leadership capacities around the state and inspire them to stay involved in civic engagement. Earning a seat in the program is competitive with hundreds of nominations received each year, with only 40 individuals ultimately selected.

Class members will have the opportunity to travel to communities across all corners of the state over the 6-month long program. Upon graduating the program, class members will join the alumni network of over 1,300 distinguished Kansans including the likes of Bill Graves, Jerry Moran, David Dillon, and many others.

After spending several years as a law enforcement officer, Showalter joined the faculty ranks at Northwest Tech in the Crime Scene Investigation program. During his tenure as an instructor in the program, it was one of the fastest growing majors at the college. He currently serves as the Dean of Student Advancement at Northwest Tech, where he is responsible for leading student life initiatives, student discipline, and enhancing student engagement. “I am blessed to have been accepted into such a prestigious leadership organization and have been inundated with calls, letters, and emails from business and civic leaders from across Kansas congratulating me,” said Showalter. “It is evidence of how strong the connections within Leadership Kansas are, and I cannot wait to meet my classmates and program alumni.”

Showalter will join the ranks of several Goodland community members who have been in the program in the past; Joe Bain, Ben Brandvik, Brad Cowan, Marcia Golden, Brian Linin, Ed Mills, Jenifer Sanderson, Kevin Sanderson, Ben Schears, Jeanie Schields and Alan Townsend.