College Receives Funding For Manufacturing Program
March 29, 2022
From left, Andy Aarons, associate professor of technical education, demonstrates an
automatic processing machine to Dr. John LaPrise, vice president of educational outreach;
Dr. Tony Miksa, president; Dr. Kim Bolton, dean of the Claiborne County Campus; Lisa
Shiveler, grant writer; and Dr. Anita Ricker, assistant dean of workforce training.
Walters State Community College has received a $981,000 grant from the Tennessee Higher
Education Commission to provide career education tools and opportunities for enhanced
training to area high school students as well as apprenticeship programs for area
manufacturers. This grant will fund the college’s TIME (Training Industrial Manufacturing
Excellence) Program, uniting Walters State’s 10-county service area through a partnership
that includes economic- and community-development agencies, school systems and employers.
The funding is part of the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) grant
initiative and was funded by the Tennessee General Assembly. The program facilitates
the alignment of local workforce and education partners to facilitate employer-driven
career pathways.
“This presents a unique opportunity for educators and employers throughout our service
area to present vocational opportunities in manufacturing and other key skill areas
to students earlier in their educational journey,” Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters
State, said. “We know that students make better choices when given information. This
grant will enable us to provide that information in new, more relevant ways through
experiences like pre-apprenticeships.”
TIME is designed to implement services to assist high school students in preparing
to join the workforce. Specific plans have been developed based on local workforce
needs. TIME will also provide these effective general education enhancements:
• The Walters State Division of Workforce Training will develop and deliver classes
emphasizing the skills needed for the Work Ethic Diploma, including the attitudes
and habits needed by employers.
• Virtual reality exercises and summer camps will give students more information on
the actual work involved in manufacturing, correcting many long-held stereotypes.
• The college’s Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Technology program will
offer prior learning assessment credit for the completion of Scientific Management
Technology assessments.
• Students will receive work-based learning experiences through apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships
and other real-world opportunities.
Partners named in the grant are the Claiborne County School System and the East Tennessee
Human Resource Agency. Two employers are included: ARTAZN, one of the leading producers
of zinc products with headquarters in Greeneville; and Iatric, a hygienic supplier,
with a location in Hamblen County. While these organizations partnered in the grant
process, the collaboration will expand to include more school systems, community-
and economic- development agencies and employers.
“We are fortunate at Walters State to have such a close working relationship with
area school systems, community agencies and employers,” said Dr. John LaPrise, vice
president for educational outreach at Walters State. “I look forward to working with
these to have a lasting impact on future high school graduates.”
In the photo: Walters State Community College has received a $991,000 GIVE grant to
fund training in manufacturing excellence. From left, Andy Aarons, associate professor
of technical education, demonstrates an automatic processing machine to Dr. John LaPrise,
vice president of educational outreach; Dr. Tony Miksa, president; Dr. Kim Bolton,
dean of the Claiborne County Campus; Lisa Shiveler, grant writer; and Dr. Anita Ricker,
assistant dean of workforce training.