K-State Salina engineering students gain industry experience as well as their K-State degrees.
Choosing what to do after high school can be a challenge. Should I go to college? Should I get some real-world work experience? At K-State Salina, the Great Plains Manufacturing Scholars program makes that decision easy — do both!
This one-of-a-kind scholarship program lays out a degree path that travels through the manufacturing floor as well as the classroom. The program is a result of a partnership with Great Plans Manufacturing, a Kubota Company, that is headquartered in Salina.
Bringing together classroom and lab learning with industry-specific training and hands-on exposure to industry technologies, GPM scholars can earn their degree in only three years, while working part-time at Great Plains Manufacturing.
The best thing about the GPM Scholars program? Graduating with little to no debt. In addition to being paid for the 20 hours they work each week, students receive an annual scholarship that covers 85% or more of in-state tuition.
Several scholars have been hired into full-time jobs at Great Plains upon graduation.
“Over the past two years, I’ve gained knowledge and skills that prepared me for the job I’m in currently,” said Jacob Koop, who graduated from K-State Salina with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology. “I am a lot further along than I ever expected. It’s possible I could be the head of a department within a few years.”
By graduation, most GPM scholars will have earned more than 2,400 hours of professional experience, learning and gaining experience with various parts of manufacturing processes and how to manage projects.
“My favorite project was working with Kubota engineers from Japan,” said Jacob. “It was overwhelming at first, but they walked me through it and then I was doing it on my own. Now it will become one of the projects I work on in my new job.”
Whether it’s traditional homework or hands-on industry training, K-State Salina is offering new ways to earn a valuable college degree while supporting the university’s initiative to reduce student debt.
Written by: Heather Ackerly