Northland selected to launch national education initiative

Thief River Falls, Minn. - Northland Community & Technical College has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program. The award provides nearly $200,000 to be utilized over three years. The project, entitled "Revolutionary Opportunities for Highly Educated Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technicians" will be under the direction of Northland Instructors, Jonathan Beck and Thomas Biller. The project will expand access and awareness about the rapidly emerging UAS industry through education and career pathways development in collaboration with educational institutions, industry, and existing NSF ATE Centers.

NCTC President Anne Temte commented, “I am so pleased by this award. Recognition by the National Science Foundation is truly an expression of confidence in our capabilities and our vision for the future.”

“This grant will allow Northland to continue its first-in-the-nation education programming in unmanned aircraft systems to promote their growing use in the commercial sector. At the same time, we will leverage NSF’s nation-wide network of advanced technology centers and STEM expertise to develop best-in-class, technician level training for this revolutionary technology,” states Jim Retka, Dean of Career and Technical Education.

“UAS are a revolutionary technology impacting many industries. The power of commercial utilization of the technology lies in technician education,” notes Jonathan Beck, Principal Investigator.