Every day, students walk through the doors of Southwest Technology Center searching for a better future for themselves, their families, and the generations that follow. Through a powerful partnership with Work Ready Altus, those individuals are finding the training, support, and opportunities they need to turn that future into reality.
Together, Southwest Tech and Work Ready Altus are helping individuals overcome barriers, gain confidence, and develop the skills needed to secure meaningful employment. By combining personalized employment coaching, life skills support, and industry recognized career training, the partnership creates pathways that lead to long term success and self sufficiency.
Students have the opportunity to earn real world, in demand credentials through programs such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training. These programs provide hands on experience, industry certifications, and direct connections to careers that are critical to our local and regional workforce. For many participants, these credentials open doors to employment opportunities that may have once seemed out of reach.
The impact extends well beyond a paycheck. Education and workforce training have the power to transform entire families. Many of the individuals served through this partnership are not only changing their own lives but creating a new legacy for their children and future generations. By obtaining skills, securing employment, and building financial stability, they are breaking generational cycles and creating a foundation for lasting success.
"The skills training offered by SWTC to our participants has an immediate impact on their hope of a brighter future and their goal of long term self sufficiency," said Work Ready Altus Program Director Randall Coffman.
That hope is reflected in every student who earns a certification, lands a job, advances in a career, or discovers a renewed belief in their own potential.
Southwest Tech is proud to recognize the impact of this collaboration and is honored that Work Ready Altus has been selected as the school's 2026 Partners in Progress award recipient through the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education (OkACTE).
"Partnerships like this demonstrate what is possible when organizations come together with a shared commitment to serving others," said Kerry Evans, Director of Business Development at Southwest Technology Center. "Through education, workforce training, and support services, we are helping individuals build careers, strengthen their families, and create opportunities that can change the trajectory of future generations."
The Partners in Progress recognition reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to empowering individuals, strengthening families, and building a skilled workforce for southwest Oklahoma. Together, Southwest Tech and Work Ready Altus continue to create opportunities that lead to brighter futures, stronger communities, and lasting success.