The Texas Workforce Investment Council, on behalf of the Office of the Governor, has awarded the West Texas Energy Consortium (WTxEC or Consortium) with a $500,000 Wagner-Peyser grant.
The Consortium formed in 2013 through a partnership of the workforce development boards in the Permian Basin, Concho Valley, and West Central Texas. Under the Wagner-Peyser grant, a Regional Center of Excellence in STEM is set to launch in 2016 to further student involvement in energy related training and degree programs in STEM fields and provide resources for educators and administrators.
WTxEC will host the West Texas STEM Educator’s Conference and Expo in Abilene on August 10-12, 2016, which will include professional development tracks for K-12 teachers, administrators, and post-secondary educators. Wagner-Peyser funding will support the development of a mobile app focused on STEM careers and resources for students, parents, educators and job-seekers. WTxEC is also eager to award an additional $200,000 in dual credit and post-secondary scholarships to eligible West Texas students pursuing STEM and energy related certificate or degree programs throughout 2016. Finally, the region's first annual Energy Day highlighting educational and career opportunities in sustainable energy related occupations is coming to West Texas in fall 2016.
With so many exciting projects on the horizon, Consortium Chairman Ken Becker says, “The success of the West Texas Energy Consortium has largely to do with the excellent staff, partnering communities & industry representatives, and the leadership from the three workforce boards. These successes keep us focused to stay relevant to our communities and business partners.” The West Texas Energy Consortium is always seeking engaged community leaders to get involved in task forces supporting education, infrastructure, emergency management, and workforce development projects.
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