Workforce Development

HGTC Names Lori Heafner as Next College President

Conway, S.C. – September 21, 2026 -- The Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) Area Commission has selected Lori A. Heafner, Ph.D., as the college's next president, following a national search that concluded with a special-called meeting on Sept. 18. Heafner will take office Jan. 4, 2027.

Area Commission completes national search with finalist visits and public forums

The decision followed campus visits and public forums held on the Conway Campus, where three finalists met with faculty, staff, students and community members. The search was conducted with assistance from the Association of Community College Trustees.

RockSol's Nicola Upright Honored for 41-Year Road Infrastructure Career

Fort Collins, Colo. – September 21, 2026 -- The Inner Circle has named Nicola Upright, Construction Manager at RockSol Consulting Group, Inc., a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for her 41-year career in heavy civil road construction and transportation infrastructure across Colorado.

Career spans state testing roles to multimillion-dollar project management

Upright started with the Colorado Department of Transportation as a tester and inspector before advancing to project manager positions overseeing large-scale roadway and bridge reconstruction work. Her responsibilities have included project budgeting, materials testing coordination, team supervision and contractor-agency collaboration.

National Medical Fellowships Marks 80 Years, $50M in Scholarships

Chicago – September 20, 2026 -- National Medical Fellowships (NMF) has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships and supported over 32,000 scholars across all 50 states since its founding in 1946, the organization announced ahead of its 80th anniversary celebration this October in Chicago, where its mission began.

NMF marks eight decades of funding medical education pathways

The nonprofit's support has extended beyond scholarships to mentorship, career development, service-learning programs, and clinical research leadership training for aspiring and current health professionals. Alumni from the program have gone on to work as physicians, educators, and health care leaders serving communities nationwide.

Florida Unveils Eligible Programs for Federal Workforce Pell Grant

Tallahassee – September 20, 2026 -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has released the state's initial list of short-term workforce training programs eligible for the new federal Workforce Pell Grant, a Trump Administration initiative extending federal financial aid to non-degree credentials tied directly to employment.

Federal aid now covers short-term credentials tied to labor demand

The Workforce Pell Grant funds programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations, with some credentials completable in as little as 8 weeks. Eligibility is determined using two existing state tools: the Targeted Occupations List managed by FloridaCommerce and the CareerSource Florida Master Credential List.

Rasmussen University to Graduate Nearly 6,200 Students in Final 2026 Ceremony

St. Paul – September 20, 2026 -- Rasmussen University, part of American Public University System, will confer credentials on nearly 6,200 graduates during its 2026 Minnesota Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, marking the institution's third and final commencement of the year.

Graduates span 32 states and eight academic disciplines

Attendees registered for the in-person ceremony represent 32 states and Washington, D.C., underscoring the university's national student base despite operating 20 physical campuses. The Class of 2025-2026 completed programs across nursing, health sciences, business, education, human services, justice studies, design and technology. Nearly 20% of graduates are earning a second or additional degree from Rasmussen, pointing to sustained demand for repeat credentialing among working adults.

Anheuser-Busch Pours $21M Into LA, Mira Loma Plants

Los Angeles – September 20, 2026 -- Anheuser-Busch [NYSE: BUD] is investing $21 million in its Los Angeles and Mira Loma, California facilities to expand production of Michelob ULTRA and Cutwater Spirits, the company announced.

Investment targets canning, bottling and rail capacity upgrades

The funding will upgrade canning and bottling operations, boost output of Cutwater, the top-selling spirits-based cocktail brand in the U.S., and Phorm Energy, and increase rail capacity to strengthen transportation and route-to-market logistics.

Study: Curriculum-Career Alignment Tops Graduate Employability Factors

Phoenix – September 19, 2026 -- A peer-reviewed study of 380 U.S. college graduates has identified curriculum-career alignment as the highest-rated strategy for building employability, ahead of critical thinking training and real-world application opportunities.

Researchers surveyed 380 graduates across 11 employability strategies

The mixed-methods study, published in the International Journal of Innovative Business Strategies under the title "Graduate Employability in a Changing World," was conducted by scholars affiliated with the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR) at University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies. Respondents ranked connecting curriculum to careers as the top employability factor, followed by teaching critical thinking and adaptability, incorporating real-world applications, and encouraging internships or employment.

APLU Names Florida Atlantic University an Economic Growth Innovator

Boca Raton, Fla. – September 19, 2026 -- The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has designated Florida Atlantic University (FAU) as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) University, placing it among just over 90 higher education institutions nationwide to hold the credential.

FAU secures national recognition after review of over 1,000 stakeholders

The designation followed an independent, rigorous review process that engaged more than 1,000 internal and external stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, community partners, local employers, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and public agencies. The IEP status recognizes universities that collaborate with public and private sector partners to drive economic development through innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and workforce development.

RacketPro Becomes Coaching Education Partner for Life Time Pickleball

North Bethesda, Md. – September 19, 2026 -- RacketPro (RPO) has been named the strategic coaching education provider for Life Time Pickleball (NYSE: LTH), giving coaches across the company's national club network access to RPO's Level 1–3 certification pathway.

Life Time operates more than 900 pickleball courts across 152 clubs nationwide

Over the past two years, Life Time has built one of the largest pickleball court networks in the United States, with over 900 permanent indoor and outdoor courts at 152 locations. The RPO partnership extends that infrastructure investment to coaching quality, standardizing training across all Life Time facilities offering pickleball.

Indiana American Water Opens $2.2M Training Center, Launches Flow Forward

Gary, Ind. – September 19, 2026 -- Indiana American Water has opened a $2.2 million training center in Gary, bringing the company's total infrastructure and workforce investment in the city to nearly $38 million.

New facility trains workers in real-world water infrastructure scenarios

The training center, located at 650 Madison Street near Borman Park, is designed as an outdoor "mini-city" where employees practice excavation and shoring, utility locating, traffic control, water main tapping, service line work, confined-space procedures, meter installation, and hydrant and water main repair before performing the work in live communities.