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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.

Northwest Tech recently received a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation for $25,000 to help fund an emergency generator system for the college’s Memorial Union. The college applied for the grant after recognizing the need for backup electrical service on campus in case of an emergency.

High school juniors and seniors in the greater Goodland area will now have the opportunity to complete a technical certificate or associates degree at the same time they earn their high school diploma.  Starting in August 2019, high school students will be able to enroll in the half-day Engineering and Drafting Technology program on the Goodland campus.

Starting in August 2019, Northwest Tech will open a new branch location in Quinter, Kansas where high school juniors and seniors from around the area will have the opportunity to earn a technical certificate or degree in Welding Technology. 

Goodland, KS. (10/23/2018)  – It’s one of the most exciting projects of the year for most of the Northwest Tech Engineering students who volunteer, plan, and set up a haunted house for the Goodland community. The idea came from students over eight years ago to use their creative and mechanical abilities to create a spooky evening event for community members.

“It’s an opportunity for students to learn to work together,” said Engineering Instructor, Mike Zimmerman.

The Engineering program was able to upgrade their materials and equipment this year because the Sherman County Community Foundation stepped in with a generous donation. The students were thrilled.  

“Our students are very inventive, so it will be a creative experience,” Zimmerman said. “Students are using the skills they have acquired from our Engineering program and putting them to use to really make the haunted house a well put together, scary experience.”

Everyone is invited to come out and experience the haunted house. It will be hosted at the Sherman County Fairgrounds on October 26^th, 27^th, and 31^st from 6pm-9pm each night. There will also be a “children’s version” of the haunted house on October 31^st from 5:30-6:00pm. Admission is $3 per person or 3 cans of food per person. All canned food and money collected will be donated to benefit Genesis of Sherman County.