Our Blog
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Funding Your Flight Path: Aerospace Scholarships Open Now
Scholarships are a great way help pay for tuition, books, materials and more. But often they’re hard to find or have varying closing dates and requirements. Recognizing our role to serve students and educational institutions across Washington, the Center of Excellence is pleased to run down some current and available scholarships to students at Washington’s
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SPEEA Childcare Grant, IAM Childcare Center updates
For years, aerospace leaders, parents and aerospace workers across Washington State have recognized the need for expanded childcare to better serve our communities. Two recent developments will help to ease the burden of parents that work irregular hours and student parents pursuing aerospace-related degrees. SPEEA, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, in partnership
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PNAA ADVANCE Conference Celebrates 25 Years February 9-11
The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance’s annual conference, PNAA ADVANCE, will celebrate 25 years of community February 9-11 at the Lynnwood Events Center. For more than two decades, PNAA’s conference has united the aerospace community, strengthening and growing the local cluster and supply chain, critical to the economic success of the region. Today global competition, rising
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Boeing Student Development Programs Now Accepting Applications
The Boeing Company, partner of the Center of Excellence, has announced details of their 2026 Student Development Programs, perfect for Washington State high school and community college students interested in building skills for future careers in aerospace. Boeing’s Manufacturing Student Development Programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive experience, including hands-on training, job
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COE Welcomes New Advisory Committee Members
The Center of Excellence for Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing is pleased to announce the addition of three new Advisory Committee members: “Their mix of experience in education and industry, along with insight into how the Center of Excellence leads will be invaluable,” says Executive Director Jill Thornton. “State-wide knowledge, industry leadership and connections to union
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AI in Manufacturing Webinar for Faculty
Set for October 24th at 9 a.m. Pacific, the ‘AI in Manufacturing: A Faculty Primer for Community Colleges’ webinar provides the opportunity for faculty and administrators at community colleges to explore the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence across the manufacturing sector. The webinar is presented by the National Applied AI Consortium, hosted by Miami Dade
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Future in Flight Expo Lands October 30th
The Future in Flight Expo on October 30 at accesso ShoWare Center will give hundreds of high school students a front-row seat to careers in aerospace and advanced manufacturing in South King County and beyond. The day brings students and educators together with aerospace and advanced manufacturing employers to explore career pathways ranging from space
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Connecting Industry to Community and Technical Colleges
As a representative of industry, perhaps you’re interested in learning more about your local community or technical college. Maybe you recently hired an outstanding graduate of an aerospace or manufacturing program and wonder if this can lead to a pipeline for your skilled hiring needs. Or perhaps you attended a community or technical college yourself,
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Washington Manufacturing by the Numbers
With data from JobsEQ, we dive into the critical role manufacturing plays in Washington’s economy. For more than a hundred years, manufacturing and aerospace have been a foundation for Washington’s economy, generating billions in revenues and supporting quality jobs. Manufacturing and aerospace act as diversifiers, ensuring the economy is built on more than services and
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Center of Excellence Welcomes New Executive Director Jill Thornton
Bringing passion for student achievement and a deep interest in how education meets the needs of industry, Everett Community College was pleased to appoint Jill Thornton as new Executive Director earlier this month. As Jill settles in, we hear more about previous roles, goals, and what’s next for the Center of Excellence. You most recently
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New Data On Space Jobs
Recent Department of Labor report points to growth in the space sector. When we think of jobs in the space industry, visions of an astronaut on a spacewalk may come to mind. But it’s the logistics of space missions that require large teams with varied skills and specialized training. Take Boeing’s recent Starliner launch—two astronauts
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Core Plus Aerospace 2024 Highlights
Washington State’s Core Plus Aerospace program teaches high school students manufacturing skills paired with universal skills needed in today’s workplace, preparing high school and skills center students with more options after graduation. The two-year curriculum includes materials science and advanced composites, all in a workplace-like setting that encourages learning by doing. Core Plus was developed