Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
The Advanced Manufacturing Technology department at South Texas College was recently selected to receive a Workforce Development Donation from GE Aerospace and GE Aerospace Foundation to build a larger skilled manufacturing workforce.
The donation, in the amount of $165,000, will provide scholarship opportunities to 25 eligible students to cover tuition, books and other expenses.
Erika Guerra, STC Advanced Manufacturing Technology instructor, said this donation will provide the financial support some students need to complete their education.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Technology department is thrilled to announce that our students have been chosen by the GE Foundation to receive scholarship support,” said Guerra. “These scholarships will enable eligible students to graduate without the burden of tuition, allowing them to pursue careers in the manufacturing fields they are passionate about.”
STC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology department, offers occupational skills awards, certificate and associate degree career pathways in Precision Manufacturing Technology, Mechatronics, Robotics and Manufacturing Technician. Programs can be completed within one to five semesters.
The department is also the first in the state to earn an accreditation from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), which is the nation’s only American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited developer of precision manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments.
In a press release from GE Aerospace and GE Aerospace Foundation, it states that GE has donated $2.3 million to a range of organizations such as STC. These donations come as a new Morning Consult and GE Aerospace Survey of 1,000 U.S. workers, across all manufacturing industries, find that skills development is needed for newer workers and viewed as a key to worker success and retention.
“Providing training opportunities and reducing barriers for workers to gain skills are key to the future of the aerospace industry,” said Christian Meisner, GE Aerospace chief human resource officer and GE Aerospace Foundation chair. “But we cannot do this urgent work alone. It will take partners like the ones GE Aerospace and the GE Foundation are awarding, and we look forward to expanding on this work to support workers and the broader industry at this critical time.”
The donations from GE Aerospace and GE Aerospace Foundation will help partners like STC reduce costs for individuals seeking manufacturing skills through scholarships, establish new programs and expand on existing ones.
“The support our students will receive from the GE Foundation Scholarships is truly transformative,” said Guerra. “Eligible students will have the opportunity to enroll in our Advanced Manufacturing Technology Programs without the burden of tuition costs, and they will also receive transportation assistance to help them attend.”
For more information on STC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology courses and scholarship opportunities, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ or call 956-872-6258.
