Granting Access to the Path Forward
Exciting things are happening at GPTC! Here, you will find recent grants awarded to GPTC and more information about how they are equipping students with the tools needed for excelling in the workforce in Georgia and the world at large.
PepsiCo Foundation and AACC Grant
GPTC Awarded $172,550 Grant from PepsiCo Foundation and AACC
Georgia Piedmont Technical College is pleased to announce it’s been awarded $172,550 for student scholarships through the PepsiCo Foundation and American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The funds are allocated through the PepsiCo’s Foundation’s Uplift scholarship program which provides a holistic approach to filling gaps to issues such as transportation, professional development, housing and even mentorship services. In order to qualify, GPTC students must be a first-generation college student, have completed high school or a high school equivalency, be considered low-income and/or classified by the college as an underrepresented or underserved student.
QUALIFYING PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Associate degrees: accounting, automotive technology, business administration, business management, computer support specialist, electronics technology, electrical & computer engineering technology, building automation systems, commercial refrigeration, HR management, industrial systems technology, mechatronics technology, precision manufacturing & maintenance and marketing management.
Technical certificates of credit: computer accounting specialist, payroll accounting specialist, logistics management specialist, logistics management technician, marketing specialist, mechatronics technician and retail merchandise manager.
M.I.L.E. Grant Award
$1M Grant Allows Veterans Attending GPTC to go the Extra M.I.L.E.
The M.I.L.E. (Mechatronics Immersive Learning Experience) grant is specifically geared toward helping veterans gain hi-tech, transferable skills.
To support the growing demand in the mechatronics field, this grant will implement a pathway for military veterans enrolled at Georgia Piedmont Technical College to have an immersive learning experience exposing them to the mechatronics career field. GPTC President and fellow veteran Tavarez Holston explains why this particular audience was the focus of the grant.
The MILE grant is referred to as a ‘pivot grant,’ meaning it allows recipients to switch paths from previous careers. The training, education and career readiness will be managed primarily through the college’s economic development division where six cohorts of 10 students each will be enrolled in the 16-week long program, during which time they’ll be paid $24/hour for their training. Grant funding will go toward participant support and operational costs. To see if you qualify, fill out this application.
S.H.I.F.T. Grant Award
Nearly $350K Grant to Fund Mechatronics Program for High School Students
The Strengthening High School Initiatives in Future Technology, or S.H.I.F.T. grant, is earmarked for future high school juniors and seniors in mechatronics classes at Georgia Piedmont. Mechatronics is a booming industry and is defined as a cutting-edge field that merges mechanics, electronics, and computer science to create intelligent machines and systems.
The S.H.I.F.T. project will run for three years with grant monies going toward equipment, faculty stipends and student support services; a total of 60 students will be recruited into the program. The collaboration between GPTC and area high schools also means the participating students will have one-on-one career exploration opportunities in mechatronics and other STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) -related fields.