Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas recently was awarded a grant of about $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Education to improve postsecondary career education for rural students.
The funds, which will be provided over a three-year period, will go to help students find employment in high-demand, high-wage careers, Workforce Solutions said in a news release. Programs supported by the funds will include career awareness initiatives for middle and high school students, college and career advising for seniors and work-based learning opportunities.
The grant will be implemented in partnership with Cisco College, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University and other institutions of higher learning, the release said, with support from employers in industries such as manufacturing and healthcare.
The grant will be presented at a ceremony Wednesday.
ACU establishes marriage-family center to honor Faulkners
Abilene Christian University on Friday announced the Paul and Gladys Faulkner Center for Marriage and Family.
The facility is named for the late Paul Faulkner, who for years enriched marriages through counseling with his college friend Carl Brecheen. A preacher, author, professor and counselor, Faulkner died July 5 at 92.
His wife died in 2016.
The center will offer speakers, events and resources for ACU, Abilene “and beyond,” according to a news release. It will be funded partially by an endowment.
It will be part of ACU’s Department of Marriage and Family Studies in the College of Biblical Studies.
Faulkner with Brecheen founded the Marriage Enrichment Seminar. Seminars were conducted in 33 states and seven countries over 32 years.
“Thanks to the generosity of donors to the endowment, we’re able to build on the enduring legacythat Paul Faulkner began in marriage and family ministry,” said Dr. Heidi Morris, associateprofessor of marriage and family studies. “The Faulkner Center will focus on promoting andstrengthening the formation and commitment of marriages, families and healthy relationships.”
More:Paul Faulkner for decades enriched marriages
Tarleton seeks animal and natural resource doctoral program
Tarleton State University announced Wednesday that recently received authorization from the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to seek final approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a PhD program in animal and natural resource sciences.
The 60-hour program will be Tarleton’s fourth doctoral program, and the first doctoral program for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the university said in a news release.
“This is a huge win for Tarleton and for the global community,” Dr. Diane Stearns, Tarleton provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said in the release. “The demand for food alone is expected to increase at least 2.5 times by 2050 as the world’s population approaches 10 billion.”
For information, go to tarleton.edu/coanr.
Tarleton opens child development center
Tarleton recently celebrated the opening of its new Child Development Center and Tarleton Center for Child Well-being, the school said in a news release.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was Thursday at the new facility, which was previously Moody Hall. Moody was constructed as women’s on-campus housing in 1936, and later provided a variety of children’s services.
Renovations include reception areas, four classrooms, a learning lab, an indoor activity center, an outdoor playground and a food service area, as well as new security features.
Area music students win state awards
The Texas Music Teachers Association recently honored several students from the Abilene area with its Student Affiliate Senior Participation Award, recognizing graduating high school seniors for their participation in TMTA activities.
Tommy Thomas, a student of Sherry Frush, was named First Place State Winner, for accumulating the most participation points in grades 1-12. Thomas was Wylie High School’s valedictorian for 2022.
More:Tommy Thomas valedictorian speech
Honorable mentions, awarded for students receiving a minimum of 20 participation points, were presented to four other Abilene students: Kylie Frush, a student of Sherry Frush; Sydni Jackson, a student of Noreen Carson; Harrison Smith, a student of both Elizabeth Moore and Sherry Frush; and Avery Stevenson, a student of Sherry Frush.
Additionally, Harrison Smith received an honorable mention for the Whitlock Memorial Senior Award – recognizing seniors for achievements in TMTA competitions and exams – and Sydni Jackson received the TMTA Twelve Year Medal awarded to seniors who earned medals in state theory examinations.
Sydni Jackson and Ardyn Little, a student of Sherry Frush, received the TMTA Nine Year Ensemble Award, honoring students who have participated in state convention ensembles for nine years.
Junior Achievement of Abilene presents 12 scholarships
Junior Achievement of Abilene recently announced the awarding of $41,000 worth of scholarships to 12 area high school seniors who will be pursuing higher education.
The scholarships, which were presented at the JA Scholarship Reception on July 21, were made in partnership with the Willie I., Wanda, W.F. Martin Charitable Trust Fund managed by First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company and Abilene Christian University.
Scholarship recipients are, by school:
- ATEMS: Frank Fang and Claude Nduwimana
- Abilene High School: Berkley Paul
- Cooper High School: Natalie Stefan, Meredith Clancy, Lawrence Diles, McKenzie Wasson and Dikchya Biswa
- Jim Ned High School: Jarrett Harle
- Wylie High School: Lilly Doby, Emma Allen and Marcus Rose
