A grant from the National Science Foundation will provide more career training opportunities for Information Technology students at Renton Technical College.

RTC received a $326,000 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. government’s independent science agency. The three-year grant will expand and promote job readiness through experiential learning.

“This grant will significantly enhance our students' prospects by increasing internship opportunities, fostering deeper learning experiences, providing funding for industry-recognized certifications, and facilitating valuable industry connections as they pursue their AAS degrees at RTC,” said Colleen Day, the instructor who will lead the initiative funded by the grant.

RTC offers associate of applied science degrees and transfer degrees in Computer Science, Cloud Network Technology, and Cybersecurity, as well as shorter programs and two applied bachelor’s programs.

"Our faculty are dedicated to student success and innovation," RTC President Yoshiko Harden said. "Renton Technical College trains students for the workforce, and this grant will strengthen those efforts."

The ATE program focuses on the education of technicians who work in high-tech fields that drive the nation’s economy. Because two-year community and technical colleges are the leading sources of technician education in the United States, faculty from these higher education institutions have had leadership roles in most ATE projects since the program began in 1993.