Building Futures with Engineering Technology at Fort Hays Tech Northwest

Picture from Fort Hays Tech Northwest website

INFORMATION TAKEN FROM INTERVIEW ON THE GOOD NEIGHBOR HOUR---Goodland native Mike Zimmerman has seen the world of engineering from both the private sector and the classroom—and now he's helping students in northwest Kansas discover their own paths through the Engineering Technology Program at Fort Hays Tech Northwest.

Zimmerman graduated from Goodland High School in 2004 and went on to earn his Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from Kansas State University at the Salina campus. He worked as a design and project engineer for Koch-Glitsch, part of Koch Industries—one of the largest privately owned companies in the U.S.—before returning to Goodland in 2011 to teach.

“We were driving back and forth all the time to visit family, and eventually we knew this was where we wanted to raise our kids,” he said. “When the opportunity came up to teach at the college in the engineering program, it just fit.”

A Longstanding Program with a Modern Twist

The Engineering Technology Program in Goodland has deep roots, dating back to the college’s second year of existence when it began as a drafting program. Over time, it evolved into a full-fledged engineering technology offering, and now, thanks to key investments, it’s more robust than ever.

During the COVID years, the college received a $500,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to expand its mechanical engineering resources—3D printers, CNC machines, and more. That helped launch a Mechanical Engineering Technology pathway, giving students a hands-on way to learn how to design and build real-world projects.

“Students can choose to focus on civil or mechanical design, and in the mechanical pathway, they not only learn how to model something—they learn how to make it,” Zimmerman explained. “It’s designing and creating, start to finish.”

Picture from Fort Hays Tech Northwest website

More Than a Classroom: A Gateway to Careers

With growing industry support and a strong reputation, the program has become a talent magnet.

“We’ve had companies say we’re the Harvard of technical colleges,” Zimmerman said with a smile. “They come to Goodland first, looking for graduates before they even go to other schools.”

Opportunities for students are widespread—across Kansas and beyond. Thanks to remote work options, students can now live locally while working for national firms. Some alumni have landed careers with Black & VTech in Kansas City, others with Kimley-Horn in Texas, and many continue their education through the university system.

A Strong Path to a Bachelor’s Degree

Fort Hays Tech Northwest students benefit from a smooth transition to the Fort Hays State University main campus through a formal articulation agreement. Most credits transfer seamlessly, and students can earn their bachelor’s in Engineering Design Technology in as little as three semesters—or even two with the right prep work.

“The affiliation has strengthened communication and made it easier for students to build a long-term plan,” said Zimmerman. “They know what they need, they know what transfers, and they’re getting the most out of their time here.”

Real Skills, Real Impact

This year, the Engineering Technology Program has around 25 students and three instructors, including Zimmerman. Nine mechanical engineering students are set to graduate this spring—and their next steps are already lined up.

Whether it's a job in the field, a move to a big city, or the next academic challenge, the future is wide open for these grads.

“It’s great to see our students not wondering if they’ll get a job, but deciding which job they want,” Zimmerman said. “That’s the kind of problem we like to have.”