News / Press Releases

Goodland, KS. (10/23/2018)  –  Northwest Tech is pleased to announce it has received a $42,750 Innovative Technology Grant from the Kansas Board of Regents. These funds will support the Auto Body and Repair program and will be used to purchase a virtual reality painting simulation device (SimSpray) that will supplement the learning environment in the Auto Body Repair program.

“We are excited to have access to this technology,” commented Auto Body Repair instructor, William Morris. “Our students will greatly benefit by being able to go through simulations of different methods before heading into the paint booth. This will save a lot of time and money.”

The Auto Body Repair program requires students to experience hands-on learning and real life scenarios in order to prepare them for work in industry. The SimSpray simulator will allow students to solve many body positioning, coating technique, equipment setup, and angle scenarios in a short period of time. Using the traditional method of practice painting makes it difficult for the instructors to provide students with a high variety of circumstances in a short period of time. The SimSpray will allow instructors to isolate certain parts of a structure so students can better understand the concepts. The SimSpray software will also solve the issue of multiple students using the paint booths. Instructors will be able to introduce new methods to their students using the SimSpray before letting them use the spray booth with real materials. This will allow students to create muscle memory and a general sense of a new technique before they enter the paint booth. The SimSpray simulator and software will allow instructors to create interactive auto body scenarios that students will be able to interactively solve onscreen.

The Kansas Board of Regents established the Innovative Technology Grants to award funds to community and technical colleges in Kansas to support innovative technical courses or programs in emerging technologies or areas of skill shortages. The targeted programs for this fund are high growth, high wage and highly skilled occupations with higher than average job vacancy rates or projected growth rates. Successful grant awards must include a strong partnership and alignment with industry.

For more information on the Auto Body Repair program or how to enroll visit our website at www.fhnw.edu or call admissions at 1-800-316-4127.

Goodland, KS. (10/25/2018)  – The newly constructed Maverick Softball Fields received a very special addition thanks to a generous local donation. BankWest has donated $30,000 to fund the new electronic scoreboards that now bear the name of the local bank.

Each field is outfitted with one 7-inning LED scoreboard. The boards have the latest technology installed including wireless controls and LED lighting. The overall sizes of the boards are 12’ high and 18’ long including the sponsor panel.

"We (Northwest Tech Athletics) have been very fortunate to have local businesses like BankWest come forward and make generous contributions," said Rory Kling, Northwest Tech Director of Athletics. "They have done so much over the years not only for Northwest Tech but also for the Goodland community."

"Gifts from supporters like BankWest allow the college to continue to be a vibrant and visible part of the community,” said Northwest Tech’s President Ben Schears. “They have been one of the most generous organizations in the region for the college and we’re very grateful for all they have done for Northwest Tech and our community.”

Over the years, BankWest has been one of the largest financial contributors to the college. In 2016, Bank West partnered with the Precision Agriculture program at Northwest Tech and donated $25K to kick-start the brand-new program. In addition, BankWest provides endowed scholarships each year for incoming students.

Goodland, KS. (09/10/2018)  – “The Stable” is Northwest Tech’s latest eatery project, which had its grand opening this week. The newly renovated space, formerly the campus bookstore, is now an inviting common room where students can study, grab a quick snack, or just relax between classes.

The menu items include personal pizzas, paninis, sub sandwiches, salads, hotdogs, fountain drinks, and much more. “I’m excited to have a place on campus where students and community members can come together for events and a bite to eat,” said Jason Showalter, Dean of Student Advancement. The Stable will be the main gathering spot for after school events such as Trivia Nights, Open Mic Nights, cooking classes, and much more. The student life schedule of events can be found on Facebook. Follow Northwest Tech Student Life to stay in the loop with all of this semester’s activities that have been planned. Community members are welcome to attend.

Northwest Tech’s new food service company, Great Western Dining Service, Inc, operates the Stable. GWD provides contracted dining services for schools, colleges, and universities. GWD also offers catering services to the surrounding area. For more information on GWD catering, please contact James Ross at (785) 890-1574.

The Stable is located inside the Student Memorial Union on Northwest Tech’s campus. The Stable is open to the public and community members are encouraged to stop by for a meal or snack and see what is happening at Northwest Tech!

Goodland, KS. (09/11/2018)  – In 1964, when Northwest Tech was founded, collegiate sports seemed like an unlikely dream. Back then, Northwest Tech was strictly a vocational school designed to provide students with technical skills required to preform the tasks of a particular trade.

In 2010, Northwest Tech added collegiate sports and became officially known as the home of the Mavericks. In the short time that it has existed, Northwest Tech Athletics has had a rich history of notable coaches, remarkable fans, and diligent athletes. Currently, Northwest Tech offers men and women’s basketball, men’s wrestling, men and women’s track and field, men and women’s cross country, men and women’s soccer, and women’s softball.

This year, all Northwest Tech athletics will be participating in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. 2018 marks the first year that all Northwest Tech sport programs will partake in the KJCCC. The KJCCC is a college athletic conference, which is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“I’m very excited to see all of our athletic programs being associated with the Jayhawk Conference,” said Northwest Tech’s Athletic Director, Rory Kling, “Our student athletes will have more opportunities to be recognized and rewarded for their efforts.”

"The Northwest Tech community is thrilled to have all programs in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College conference this year," said Ben Schears, president of Northwest Tech. "The range of competitive men's and women's sports programs, the athletic and academic quality of the fellow institutions, and the positive impact this conference will bring to our students all combine to make the KJCCC a great fit for the Tech.”

For more information on Northwest Tech sports, including schedules, rosters and updates, please visit: www.ntmavericks.com

Nationally Ranked Graduation Rates At Northwest TechGoodland, KS. (09/10/2018)  – Northwest Tech continues to be one of the top-performing colleges in the nation according to the recent release of the Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual Almanac. Out of 762 publicly funded technical and community colleges from around the nation, Northwest Tech ranked #19, placing the college among the top 3% in the nation. The report ranks the success of colleges in students graduating within a 3-year timeframe. Northwest Tech was the only technical college in Kansas to make the list this year.

More and more high school seniors are deciding to attend a technical college after graduation to reap the endless benefits of a technical education. Students are usually focused on the obvious benefits, such as career-focused programs, smaller class sizes, adaptability, and less debt after graduation. However, many new college students do not realize the importance of graduation rates and what that could mean for their future.

“Achieving a ranking this high in the Chronicle, an analysis of U.S. Department of Education Data, is a huge deal,” says President Ben Schears. “Earning a certificate or degree makes a tremendous difference in our students ability to enter the workforce, make an impact on the state’s economy, and start enjoying the career they trained for and love.”

Graduation rates are a reflection of the accountability, transparency, and quality that Northwest Tech promises its students. Northwest Tech prides itself on the academic support that the faculty and staff provide to students and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

Also making the list was Colby Community College, which came in ranked #24. “I think it speaks volumes for Northwest Kansas as a whole, that the two colleges in our region are recognized for achieving such high graduation rates,” said Schears, “…it’s good news for our regional economy and the communities that support us.”

2-Year Colleges With the Best 3-Year Graduation Rates, 2016. (2018, August 19). Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com