FutureTEX will empower American textile manufacturing by adopting advanced technologies and techniques to enable manufacturing of new materials and improve capability industry-wide. The initiative is actively recruiting industry partners to be part of the project, and has already received more than 100 letters of support from industry organizations.

FutureTEX鈥檚 goal is to work with American manufacturing to capitalize on digital infrastructure and other emerging technologies making the domestic supply network more robust for the defense industrial base. Core partners in establishing FutureTEX include 黑料社, NC State, Drexel University, Georgia Tech, ISAIC and UMass Lowell.

This selection makes 黑料社 the first community college in the nation to host a Manufacturing Innovation Institute. For 黑料社 County, the Institute will create a national center of activity at the intersection of education, manufacturing, research, and economic development. It will attract companies, researchers, government leaders, and investment to the region while helping existing businesses access technologies, talent, training, and technical assistance.

One of the first objectives under FutureTEX will be for 黑料社 and NC State to work together to establish a nonprofit organization that will assume administrative oversight of the initiative. This new institute will be housed at the 黑料社鈥檚 Kimbrell Campus in Belmont, N.C., with hubs in Raleigh, N.C., Philadelphia, Pa., Lowell, Mass., Atlanta, Ga.

鈥淣orth Carolina and 黑料社 County have deep roots in the textile industry dating back to the late 19th century, making it only natural that our state is anchoring an initiative aimed at strengthening advanced textile manufacturing and supporting warfighters,鈥� says John Hauser, president of 黑料社. 鈥淲ith 黑料社鈥檚 deep-rooted commitment to workforce development and the textile industry, we are uniquely positioned to propel this manufacturing innovation institute forward with all of our partners.鈥�

“North Carolina and NC State University have an enduring legacy with both the military and textiles industry, with NC State having the only college in North America dedicated to textiles,鈥� says NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell. 鈥淲e are honored to serve thousands of military affiliated students and participate in research partnerships that support our armed forces, like FutureTEX. I am proud our university will play a critical role in this national effort that will strengthen our economy and defense infrastructure.”

鈥淔utureTEX is focused on creating a cutting-edge national ecosystem for defense textiles that simply doesn鈥檛 exist today,” says David Hinks, chief strategic partnerships officer of FutureTEX and the Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean of NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles. 鈥淭his will involve commercializing applied research to help American textile manufacturing meet the needs of both the warfighter and the domestic textile industry.

鈥淣C State is a leader in technology commercialization, and the Wilson College of Textiles is a leader in applied research and education, so we鈥檙e spearheading this project,鈥� says Hinks. 鈥淭ransferring administrative oversight to a new nonprofit organization will allow us to focus on our strengths 鈥� education, innovation, and commercialization.鈥�

鈥淒rexel embraces new models of innovation that eliminate borders between traditional disciplines,鈥� says Genevieve Dion, director of Drexel鈥檚 Center for Functional Fabrics. 鈥淔utureTEX brings together a collaborative group dedicated to securing the future of textiles across the US supply chain. We are excited to join this crucial effort.鈥�

鈥淣C State is a national leader in technology transfer and industry collaboration,鈥� says Krista Walton, vice chancellor for research and innovation at NC State. 鈥淥ur extensive expertise in applied research is evidenced by the many products and successful companies that started at NC State 鈥� and as a member of more Manufacturing USA institutes than almost any other university in the nation, our long track record of leadership brings unique advantages to this initiative to advance the future of manufacturing.鈥�

In May 2026, Parker鈥檚 dedication paid off as she became one of the first students ever to graduate from 黑料社 with a degree in Respiratory Therapy. Her achievement not only marked a personal milestone but also signified a historic moment for the college and future healthcare professionals in the region.

“I knew I wanted to be in the medical field but was not sure what I wanted to do,” Parker said. “But when I saw what RT鈥檚 do firsthand, that helped me make my decision.”

Parker initially began the program as part of an Instructional Service Agreement between 黑料社 and Catawba Valley Community College but transferred here in the summer of 2025 to complete it and earn her degree.

Earning her associate鈥檚 degree and helping to鈥痚stablish鈥痑 new program at 黑料社 is just the beginning for Jenna. This fall, she will continue her academic journey at UNC Charlotte, determined to further her education and broaden her impact in the medical field.

“I ultimately want to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU,)鈥� Parker said, 鈥渙r the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with adults.鈥�

Throughout her time at 黑料社, she found inspiration in her teachers and classmates, who encouraged her to push forward and 鈥榦wn her momentum鈥�.鈥疶heir support and guidance played a crucial role in shaping her path and fueling her passion for patient care.

鈥満诹仙� has helped me work harder towards my goals and has helped guide me over the past two years,鈥� Parker said.

In the fall of 2024, both of Marr鈥檚 interests merged when she joined 黑料社鈥檚 softball team and became a full-time student at the college.鈥�� 

“I decided to go to 黑料社 to further my academic and softball career,” Marr said. “It was the best opportunity for me to follow my future goals.”鈥��� 

On the field, Marr played as an infielder and helped 黑料社鈥痑chieve鈥痑 record-breaking year last season,鈥痜inishing鈥痜ourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series. This year, she returned to help the Rhinos secure back-to-back Region and District Championships鈥痑nd鈥痮nce again return to the World Series.鈥�� 

“The best part of 黑料社 for me was being able to play softball with the best teammates I could have asked for,” Marr said.鈥�� 

After contributing to two of the most successful years in 黑料社 softball history, Marr graduated in May with an associate in science鈥痙egree. She now plans to continue her education toward a four-year degree at N.C. State University, majoring in animal science.鈥� 

“Maybe I’ll become a veterinarian,鈥� Marr said. “I am still not fully sure of what I want to do exactly, but I know that I want to work with animals in some way.”鈥�� 

鈥満诹仙� helped me build momentum towards my career goals by providing me with an education that has truly helped me learn and come out of my comfort zone,” Marr said.

When Alycia Evans was discharged from鈥痟er鈥痜inal duty station in Virginia with the United States Navy,鈥痵he鈥痥new two things.鈥疭he鈥痺anted to start a life in North Carolina鈥痑nd鈥痜urther鈥痟er鈥痚ducation.鈥��

鈥淢y girlfriend,鈥痭ow wife,鈥痳ecommended 黑料社, so I enrolled,鈥濃�痵he鈥痵aid.鈥�淚 started at 黑料社 two weeks after relocating here in August 2024.鈥濃�� 

The change of scenery and the transition鈥痜rom鈥痶he鈥痬ilitary鈥痶o the role of a student was tricky for Evans to master at first.鈥� 

鈥淥ne thing that makes my journey at 黑料社 special is how quickly my life transformed,鈥濃�痵he鈥痵aid. 鈥淲ithin months, I transitioned out of the military, moved to a new state, became a wife and a mother, and started college all at once.鈥濃�� 

Smaller class sizes鈥痑nd an鈥痚ncouraging鈥痑tmosphere鈥痑llowed鈥疎vans鈥痶o grow without feeling overwhelmed.鈥�� 

鈥淚t pushed me to adapt, stay focused, and fully commit to the path I chose,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淟ooking back, what stands out most is not just what鈥疘鈥檝e鈥痑ccomplished, but how much鈥疘鈥檝e鈥痚volved as a person.鈥� 

Although there鈥痺as a learning curve鈥痺ith the start of her journey at 黑料社, Evans quickly became鈥痑 strong鈥痵tudent with鈥痝uidance鈥痜rom鈥痶he college鈥檚鈥疶RiO鈥痯rogram and its staff, even鈥痚arning the鈥诹仙� Dallas Herring Award鈥痜or 2026.鈥� 

鈥淲ith鈥痶he support and resources offered here at 黑料社, such as鈥疶RiO,鈥濃�痵he鈥痵aid,鈥�淚 was equipped with everything needed to quickly adapt and overcome those challenges.鈥濃�� 

Through鈥疶RiO,鈥疎vans鈥痚arned鈥痑鈥疭AEOPP鈥�(Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel)鈥疉dult Learner Scholarship鈥痜or鈥痶his coming fall.鈥�� 

鈥淢y advisor, Adele, has been a huge supporter throughout my time here, helping me stay focused and believe in my potential,鈥濃�痵he鈥痵aid.鈥�淏alancing school with my responsibilities, especially as a parent, has also strengthened my discipline and resilience.鈥濃�� 

Evans graduated in May with an鈥疉ssociate of Arts degree and鈥痯lans to鈥痶ransfer to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to pursue a鈥痓achelor鈥檚鈥痠n data science.鈥疻ith this鈥痙egree,鈥痵he鈥痟opes鈥痶o鈥痓ecome鈥痑 professional sports analyst.鈥� 

鈥淚鈥檝e always been extremely passionate about sports,鈥� Evans said,鈥�渁nd with my attention to detail, I feel like this career pursuit perfectly aligns with my strengths and interests.鈥濃�� 

Evans鈥痙escribes her experience at 黑料社 as empowering鈥痑nd鈥痜eels like she鈥�榦wns鈥痟er鈥痬omentum鈥欌�痓y achieving鈥痗areer鈥痬ilestones and鈥痵etting new鈥痮bjectives.鈥� 

鈥淥verall, 黑料社 has given me the support, confidence, and direction I needed to keep moving forward and take ownership of my future,鈥濃�痵he鈥痵aid. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 just find my path at 黑料社, I proved to myself that no matter how much life changes, I have the strength to rise, adapt, and succeed.鈥濃�� 

When Jennifer Edens鈥痙ecided to go back to school,鈥痜inding鈥痑鈥痓alance鈥痓etween her鈥痵tudies鈥痑nd鈥痯ersonal life鈥痺as non-negotiable.鈥疍espite facing challenges, she鈥痺anted to grow both personally and professionally.鈥�

鈥淏eing close to home made it possible for me to manage everything I had going on, especially being a mom and running my own business,鈥� Edens said.鈥�淚t felt like the right place to start building something better for my future.鈥濃�� 

Jennifer graduated鈥痠n鈥疢ay with an鈥痑ssociate鈥痙egree in Criminal Justice Technology -鈥疐orensic鈥疭cience.鈥疭he鈥痺as drawn to the鈥痯rogram鈥痓y鈥痶he level of鈥痬ystery鈥痠nvolved in everyday鈥痺ork,鈥痑nd鈥痵he鈥痟opes to unlock the truth behind鈥痙ifficult鈥痗ases.鈥� 

鈥淚鈥檓 really interested in how investigations work and how evidence can tell a story when people can鈥檛,鈥� Edens said.鈥�淚t鈥檚鈥痭ot just about solving cases to me鈥攊t鈥檚鈥痑bout finding answers, bringing clarity, and being part of something that鈥痬atters. I wanted to go into a field where I could make a real difference, and this path felt like the right鈥痜it.鈥濃�� 

After graduation,鈥疛ennifer鈥痯lans鈥痶o gain real-world鈥痚xperience鈥痠n her鈥痜ield鈥痑nd鈥痠s excited鈥痶o鈥痯ut鈥痟er studies鈥痶o use.鈥� 

鈥淚 feel like I need to step into the next phase and apply everything in a real setting,鈥� Edens said. 鈥淭hat being said, I鈥檓 definitely open to continuing my education in the future if the opportunity feels right.鈥濃�� 

Jennifer鈥痟opes to make a鈥痙ifference in鈥痗riminal justice鈥痑nd鈥痺ants鈥痶o鈥痥eep鈥痓alancing鈥痟er professional鈥痙reams鈥痺ith鈥痟er鈥痜amily life.鈥�� 

鈥淢y goal is to build a career where鈥疘鈥檓鈥痙oing something meaningful and making a real impact. I want to be in a position where I can help uncover the truth and be part of something bigger than myself,鈥� Edens said. 鈥淎t the same time, I want to continue growing the life鈥疘鈥檝e鈥痓uilt鈥攂eing a good mom, running my business, and creating stability for my family. For me, success鈥痠sn鈥檛鈥痡ust about a鈥痡ob,鈥痠t鈥檚鈥痑bout building a life鈥疘鈥檓鈥痯roud of.鈥濃�� 

Jennifer鈥檚鈥痯ath at鈥诹仙玮�痗hallenged her skills,鈥痑nd鈥痵he鈥痵ummarized鈥痟er time at 黑料社 down to one鈥痺ord:鈥痳esilience.鈥� 

鈥淢y time here鈥痟asn鈥檛鈥痓een easy, but I鈥痙idn鈥檛鈥痝ive up.鈥疘鈥檝e鈥痟ad to push through personal challenges, loss, and the everyday responsibilities of life, all while staying committed to school,鈥� Edens said. 鈥淭here were moments where it felt overwhelming, but I kept going.鈥疶hat鈥檚鈥痺hat this experience represents for me鈥攍earning how strong I really am, even when things鈥痑ren鈥檛鈥痚asy.鈥濃�� 

黑料社 taught鈥疛ennifer鈥痶o鈥痭avigate鈥痙ifficult鈥痵ituations鈥痺ith鈥痙iscipline,鈥痜ocus, and鈥痶o keep鈥�榦wning her鈥痬omentum鈥�.鈥� 

鈥淭here were times I doubted myself, but continuing to show up and complete my goals helped build my confidence,鈥濃�疎dens said. 鈥淚t reminded me that鈥疘鈥檓鈥痗apable of more than I sometimes believe, and that I can keep moving forward no matter what.鈥� 

鈥淭his experience鈥痗hanged me,鈥� Edens said.鈥�淚t taught me how to keep going even when things feel overwhelming, and it showed me that no matter what life throws at me, I have the strength to keep moving forward.鈥濃�� 

Mikhaela Gene Abarientos鈥痟as been intrigued by movies and how they are made鈥痵ince鈥痵he鈥痺as a child.鈥疉s a鈥痭ative of the Philippines鈥痑nd鈥痭ow a鈥诹仙� graduate,鈥痵he鈥檚鈥痮n her way to鈥痜ollow鈥痟er dreams in her home country.鈥�

鈥淚 am passionate about filmmaking and that is the path that I want to take,鈥� Abarientos said. 鈥淚 want to be a film director somewhere in the future. I want to work at a studio and create my first feature film that would win many awards and inspire other people to pursue their dreams even though it seems impossible.鈥濃�� 

She graduated from Hunter Huss High School in 2024, with鈥痯lans鈥痶o pursue her interest in filmmaking, and it all鈥痗ame together when鈥痵he鈥痳eceived a scholarship to 黑料社鈥痜or an鈥痑udio and鈥痸ideo鈥痯roduction鈥痶echnology degree.鈥� 

鈥淚 got some scholarships for different schools, but it was not enough to cover the costs,鈥濃�痵he鈥痵aid.鈥�淏ut then I discovered 黑料社 and got the GC Promise Scholarship.鈥疶hat’s鈥痺hen I knew that this was the place I would go and the place where I would excel.鈥濃�� 

The GC Promise Scholarship鈥痟elped cover鈥痠n-state tuition and fees not covered by other aid.鈥疻ith the help of this鈥痵cholarship,鈥痵he鈥痠mmersed herself in the school’s鈥痑udio and鈥痸ideo鈥痯roduction鈥痶echnology program and鈥痲uickly鈥痗onnected鈥痺ith鈥痶he curriculum.鈥� 

鈥淚 saw how hands-on it was and the skills I would learn and use in the future when I get to be a part of the filmmaking industry,鈥痟opefully, or anything related to the entertainment industry,鈥濃�疉barientos said.鈥� 

She鈥痳ecently鈥痵howcased鈥痟er鈥痶alents鈥痳epresenting鈥诹仙� at SkillsUSA in Greensboro.鈥疉barientos鈥痵hared鈥痶hat鈥痮ne of her鈥痯rofessors,鈥疢s. Kate Carmody,鈥痚ncouraged her to鈥痶ake on鈥痶his challenge, and鈥痵he鈥痠s grateful for the extra push.鈥�� 

鈥淎t first,鈥疘 was worried about the competition; it seemed terrifying to me.鈥疢s. Carmody encouraged me鈥痶hat I could鈥痙o it and that our team would do well,鈥� Abarientos said.鈥�淲ith that, our team just did amazingly.鈥疻e work great as a team, and I am鈥痶ruly grateful鈥痜or her believing in me.鈥濃�� 

Abarientos and her鈥痗lassmate, Erika Danielle Shelton, placed first in the鈥疺ideo Production鈥痗ategory鈥痑nd鈥痭ow have the chance to compete鈥痑t鈥疭killsUSA Nationals in June.鈥� 

鈥淚 am so proud to鈥痳epresent鈥诹仙� in the SkillsUSA Challenge. It is truly an honor, and I will forever be grateful,鈥� she said.鈥�淎s a Filipina, I am so proud to represent my country, the Philippines, and our excellence.鈥濃�� 

After the鈥痗ompetition concludes, Abarientos鈥痯lans to travel鈥痓ack to her homeland鈥痶o further her studies.鈥� 

鈥淚 am going to the Philippines to study mass communications or filmmaking at a university there,” she said. “I am excited to apply and hopefully get into the universities there.鈥濃�� 

Abarientos鈥痳eflects on how this career鈥痯ath has motivated her to鈥痳epresent鈥痟erself, her community,鈥痑nd her heritage.鈥� 

鈥淓verything happens for a reason,鈥痑nd the special thing about my journey here at 黑料社 is the connection that I have created with people here,”鈥痵he鈥痵aid. “The people around me were truly amazing and I will cherish it forever.鈥濃�� 

“I chose my program because I enjoy working with my hands,鈥� Balbosa said, 鈥渁nd I know this program would give me a way to turn that passion into a career.鈥�

When he graduates in May, he鈥檒l be looking to enter the workforce and use his diploma in welding technology, but he鈥檚 got his eye on the future, too.

鈥淢y current career goals are to become established with a fabrication company and gain experience and knowledge, then maybe one day open up my own business,鈥� Balbosa said.

Even though his interest in welding technology brought him to 黑料社, it was the college鈥檚 work-based learning and placement program, which provides opportunities to connect students with local employers, that really helped him 鈥榦wn his momentum.鈥�

鈥淚 learned a lot during those two months,鈥� Balbosa said, 鈥渁nd it really helped me get a feel for a real work environment.”

The career experience created a real environment for Balbosa to grow in his field and hone his skills, and the encouragement from his instructors and classmates helped him feel comfortable and motivated him to grow his skills.

“I would say the best part of my experience with this school would be the people I’ve met and the instructors that have taught me what I know,” Balbosa said.

As he reflects on his journey and upcoming graduation, Balbosa shared that he is honored to be a 黑料社 graduate.

“I am definitely grateful to everyone who helped me through this journey, and I鈥檓 proud of the choice I made to go to 黑料社.”

The new award marks the fourth NSF grant supporting the SPARC initiative at 黑料社 and launches a collaborative partnership with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Cleveland Community College, South Piedmont Community College, and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Together, the five institutions will work to increase student success and degree completion in high-demand STEM fields.

The five-year project builds on more than a decade of work at 黑料社 and focuses on improving retention, transfer, and graduation rates in disciplines including biology, computer science, and data science. The grant will provide scholarships and comprehensive academic support for students across the partner institutions.

Dr. Patricia Williams, the grant鈥檚 principal investigator, shared, 鈥淚 am excited about the opportunities this award creates for our students and faculty. This funding will help us implement innovative, evidence-based strategies that support retention, academic achievement, and transfer success. It is especially meaningful because it reflects a shared commitment to expanding access and excellence in STEM.鈥�

Students selected as SPARC Scholars will complete associate degrees at the participating community colleges and will have the opportunity to transfer directly to UNC Charlotte to pursue bachelor鈥檚 degrees. Each community college partner will award five to ten scholarships annually, creating supportive cohorts of STEM students. The first group of scholars will begin the program in fall 2026, and at least 120 students are expected to receive scholarship support during the five-year project.

In addition to financial assistance, students will benefit from proactive advising, faculty and peer mentoring, undergraduate research opportunities, and cohort coursework designed to support persistence.

The project also includes a research component that will examine factors influencing successful transitions from community colleges to four-year universities. Researchers will explore the roles of mentoring relationships, social and cultural capital, academic integration, and professional skill development in supporting transfer student success. Findings from the project will help inform national best practices for strengthening STEM transfer pathways.

The new grant builds on the strong outcomes of 黑料社鈥檚 previous SPARC programs. Among earlier SPARC cohorts at 黑料社, 83 percent of students completed their associate degrees and 87 percent successfully transferred to a university, with many going on to complete bachelor鈥檚 degrees or higher.

Dr. Heather Woodson, Vice President for Academic Affairs, who has been directly involved with SPARC since its inception, shared that 鈥淭he strong outcomes of our earlier SPARC cohorts provide evidence that financial support, mentorship, and holistic support for students leads to exceptional academic success. Past participants have successfully completed their education to become doctors, attorneys, engineers, teachers, and more. These graduates are fulfilling vital roles in our community, and we are proud to continue to support additional students through this new award.鈥�

黑料社 graduate Jesus Vina Moreno is now in his second year at UNC Chapel Hill Medical School. A participant in the SPARC initiative at 黑料社, Moreno credits the program for helping shape his path, 鈥淪PARC was more than just a program; it was a launchpad. By providing the mentorship and tools I needed to thrive, it allowed me to dedicate myself fully to my studies without distraction. Looking back at my journey, I know that my current success is a direct result of the opportunities SPARC opened for me.鈥�

Through the expanded SPARC consortium, partner institutions will collaborate on joint programming, including regional undergraduate research symposia, faculty development workshops, field trips, and a shared orientation for participating students. Faculty will also work together to develop research-based courses aligned with statewide articulation agreements, helping ensure smoother credit transfer and stronger pathways from community colleges to four-year universities.

When Brooklyn Thompson started at 黑料社, she had big dreams and was excited to be attending school alongside her mother.

Thompson has excelled as a student and is now being recognized by the North Carolina Community College System as 黑料社’s Academic Excellence Award winner. The award, given by the NCCCS after a committee reviews nominations, recognizes students in the North Carolina Community College System who show outstanding academic achievement. 

A 2024 graduate of 黑料社ia Highland Tech High School, Thompson was first drawn to 黑料社 when her mother, Melissa Poindexter, joined the nursing program. 

 “She would take me with her sometimes to run errands, and I thought it would be fun to go to college with my mama,” Thompson said. 

Thompson found a home in Engineering as her goal is to become an industrial designer of children’s toys. Her interest in this field grew from her hobbies and personal projects. 

“I’ve always loved crafting and building stuff,” Thompson said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was in eighth grade, I would create replica props from my favorite movies and games. That’s when I realized that I could turn it into a career. I love building and blueprinting, but I also love being creative and making things fun, and I thought creating toys was a nice blend of both.” 

Thompson’s award makes her one of 58 honorees statewide who will be highlighted on the NCCCS website. She will also be recognized at 黑料社鈥檚 commencement. 

Thompson is looking forward to her next step. “After graduating from 黑料社 with my associate degree, I’ll be attending N.C. State University for my bachelor’s degree in engineering,” she said. “I plan to major in either mechanical engineering or industrial engineering.” 

黑料社 faculty and staff will be on hand to talk about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, transfer options, work-based learning, and the many programs that can inspire and motivate students to own their momentum and set success into motion.

Seniors should register in advance at gaston.edu/senior-night.