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Northwest Tech President Featured in Ingram’s Article- Goodland, KS. (04/06/2023) – 

Ben Schears, President of Northwest Kansas Technical College, was featured in the March Issue of Ingram’s Magazine: Digital Edition. The article, “50 Kansans You Should Know” features individuals who are accomplished leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Schears was recognized for his influential role and comprehensive work acknowledging the college’s socioeconomic impact within the community and region.

Collaboration between higher education and industry have been crucial to the vitality of northwest Kansas. According to Julica Oharah, Executive Director of Community Development at Sherman County Community Development, “President Schears has continued to play a significant role in our regional economic development by partnering with industry leaders and training top talent students in a highly competitive labor market.”

Successful rural colleges are meticulously connected to their communities, and Northwest Tech is no exception.  Schears serves as a catalyst for development in rural Kansas by ensuring Northwest Tech is pursuing and supporting leading industries, collaborating with local and regional organizations, and most important of all, ensuring each student is provided with the opportunity to thrive.

“A passion for education, strategic thinking, effective communication, and relationship building is necessary for effective leadership of an institution such as Northwest Tech”, said Dan Wasson, Area Board of Control Chairman. He continued, “Ben is avid about engaging the community, aligning programs, and attaining positive outcomes for our students, their families, the workforce, and our region.”

For Schears, who is wrapping up his seventh year as Northwest Tech’s president, rural America has always been important. Schears sticks to his motto of “rural by choice” and has contributed immensely to sustaining and growing the prosperity of northwest Kansas. Since his arrival in 2016, he established himself as a driven, dedicated leader with a grassroots approach.

To view the full Ingram’s “50 Kansans You Should Know” article, please visit https://ingrams.com/article/50-kansans-you-should-know-5/?fbclid=IwAR221R5VbhMnfNEsGTLcTdsIFdAvmCpSPUkBi5e9mkUiZHEJ_FDysXyO-WM&mibextid=kdkkhi#S

Northwest Tech Diesel Technology Groundbreaking Ceremony [Goodland, KS] Northwest Kansas Technical College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology at 11:30 am MT on Tuesday, April 4th.  When complete, the new 5,000 sq. ft. expansion of the facility will provide students with comprehensive training in agricultural and over-the-road dynamometers.

US Senator Jerry Moran will be on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking and deliver remarks. “Sen. Moran has been a tremendous supporter of technical education across Kansas and we are excited to have him on campus for this event,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears. “This project will provide critical space on campus to address regional workforce and economic development needs in our area”.

Since 2010, the Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology at Northwest Tech has consistently placed more than 97% of its graduates directly into the workforce after graduation. A large part of this tremendous success is due to the program’s partnerships with regional businesses that help shape the coursework for the modern industry. This project will provide improved education and training of students to meet job demands of local and regional employers.

Diesel Instructor, Jason Cook, added, “This project will give students access to state-of-the-art equipment and the opportunity to work towards certification to work on commercial diesel trucks, setting up our students for career success.”

The primary source of the project’s funding, close to $1.2 million, was provided by the U.S. Economic Development Agency (EDA). The Dane G. Hansen Foundation provided a matching grant for $150,000. An additional $85,000 was funded by the Kansas Department of Commerce through their “Jobs and Innovative Industry Skills Training” grant.

The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction.

Where: Diesel Tech Building (1205 E 13th St, Goodland, KS)

When: April 4, 2023

Time: 11:30 am MT (Please note Mountain Time!)

Otter Changes Role at Northwest Tech Goodland, KS. (01/05/23) - Frank Otter has been a part of the Northwest Tech board since the days of high school kids tight rolling their jeans and Boys II Men producing Billboard Top hits. For the past three decades, Otter has made the monthly trip from his home in Clayton, KS, to participate in the Northwest Tech board meetings in Goodland. He recently stepped down from the college board and is now welcomed as the newest member of the Endowment Association Board of Directors.

Northwest Tech President, Ben Schears, is excited to see Mr. Otter's service to the college continue through the new endowment role. "Frank is an incredible guy and has given decades of service to the college in several different ways," said Schears. "We miss him on the college board, but excited that he was willing to stay on and help the college through the Endowment Association."

Even before his service on the board, Otter had ties to the college dating back to 1979 when he graduated from the Electronics program.

His father, Marion Otter, served on the Area Board of Control during Frank's time as a student at the college. Years later, he would follow in his father's footsteps when he returned to Northwest Tech and began his time on the Area Board of Control in 1992. During his tenure on the board, his son Josh graduated from the Electronics program in 2004. Frank began working his way up, contributing to meetings as the secretary, before becoming board president from 2010-2017.

Throughout his time on the board, Otter was a part of the reconstruction of the Communications Technology program as technology advanced and the program needed to be updated. He also positively promoted the addition of athletics to the campus of Northwest Tech in 2010. This led to the successful diversification of the campus, inviting students from all over the country and world to pursue higher education at Northwest Tech. A few years later, he was chairman of the board when the Apple Ipad initiative was launched, which enabled access to a wide range of educational resources and tools anytime, anywhere.

"I would tell people if they want to be involved with anything going on in the world right now, they need to step up and get involved in your community." said Otter, "It is very well worth your time. You will learn a lot about yourself and the organization."

Otter served at his last Area Board of Control meeting in the fall of 2022. His new role with the Endowment Association board began in January of 2023. Moving forward, Otter remains committed to Northwest Tech through his service on the Welding Advisory committee and Endowment board.

Goodland, KS. (02/10/2023)  – 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 2022 Fall 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

Dean’s Honor List

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!

Goodland, Kan – A formal affiliation between Fort Hays State University (FHSU), North Central Kansas Technical College (NCK Tech), and Northwest Kansas Technical College (Northwest Tech) was unanimously approved at yesterday’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting. 

Rural higher education institutions have long been beacons of opportunity and drivers of economic prosperity in Kansas. However, today and in the coming years, our communities in rural Kansas face significant demographic and economic challenges, including...