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NWA High School Students Can Now Apply to NWACC’s Free Robotics Project for the Spring Semester
NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) is now taking applications for its 2025 Spring semester robotics project for high school students. The program is free for students at participating schools.
The STEM I2A: Career Technical Education (CTE) Innovation Incubator Accelerator is a project that identified a range of programs to implant advanced skills into new and existing CTE pathways while granting practical learning and internships.
The project will equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to align with industry needs.
NWACC officials say the idea began with the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative (NWAESC) as they sought to build richer CTE programs, and the college came on board as the postsecondary education partner to offer concurrent credit and potential degree programs.
Classes began in Fall 2024 at the Washington County location and Bentonville campus, and Spring enrollment opened on Monday, November 4.
About 72 students will be admitted to the program at different locations, with the opportunity to enroll in three distinct time openings.
“The Robotics Program at Northwest Arkansas Community College equips students with a diverse set of skills that extend well beyond robotics itself,” said Chris Lynch, NWACC director of advanced technologies. “Our curriculum integrates foundational knowledge in electronics, automation, and programming, providing students with versatile, transferable skills that apply to a wide array of industries. In addition, the program provides the opportunity for students to acquire 12 concurrent credits, and industry recognized certifications. From manufacturing to engineering, our graduates are prepared to lead in a rapidly evolving, high-tech workforce. This program is not just about mastering robotics and automation technologies; it’s about building a skill set that opens doors to countless career paths and positions our students at the forefront of technological innovation.”
This Spring semester class will be the second cohort of the program. The first took place in the fall semester of 2024. The Spring program will be opened again to juniors and seniors from 15 schools, and students will earn 12 concurrent college credits and three industry certifications within the first year.
Funds were provided by the NWAESC, the 15 school districts, NWACC and the Walton Family Foundation.
Classes will be face-to-face and last eight weeks, with one full course completed each term.
To apply and learn more about the STEM I2A: CTE Innovation Incubator Accelerator project, click here.