Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10) has announced that the National Science Foundation has awarded a $294,689 grant to Pennsylvania College of Technology to educate and train high school students for careers in the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry.
The award is the first in a continuing $882,134 grant that the NSF expects to award over the next three years. It will provide funding to develop state-of-the-art, college-level curriculum for several of the nearly 150 occupations in natural gas extraction.
“The Marcellus Shale formation represents a tremendous opportunity for job growth in clean energy technology,” said Congressman Carney. “This grant from the NSF will help the residents of our region cultivate the skills necessary to work at the forefront of the industry, and on one of the most significant natural resource reservoirs in the nation.”
The courses primarily target secondary students from 23 school districts in central and northern Pennsylvania seeking a head start on college credit through dual enrollment programs.
With recent advancements in drilling technology, the Marcellus Shale formation promises to become one of the major natural-gas producing resources in the U.S. A significant portion of the formation runs directly through the heart of northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
“These students will be able to take courses in high school and start college with some credits under their belts,” said Larry Michael, the Executive Director for Workforce and Economic Development at Pennsylvania College of Technology. “The program provides educational pathways for high school students to make a smoother transition and have a leg up for careers in development of the Marcellus Shale.”
Pennsylvania College of Technology, an affiliate of Pennsylvania State University, is located in Williamsport (www.pct.edu).
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