FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE听

MONTGOMERY, Ala. 鈥� The Alabama Community College System (ACCS), in partnership with 糖心logo入口, is bringing free, beginner-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) awareness and literacy听training to Montgomery through the AI Community Caravan.

Trenholm State will host an AI Community Caravan workshop on Tuesday, September 22, at 9:30 a.m. at the College鈥檚 Patterson Campus, located at 3920 Troy Highway in Montgomery.

The statewide initiative is designed to help individuals, businesses, and communities better understand and use emerging technology. Participants will learn what AI is, how it is used in everyday life, and how it can support work, learning, and daily activities.

The workshop will also address common misconceptions about AI and provide hands-on opportunities to explore real-world AI tools. Participants will gain practical knowledge they can begin applying immediately.

No prior AI experience is required. The workshop is open to members of the public interested in learning more about AI and its growing role in education, the workplace and everyday life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE听

Trenholm听State听Community听College Receives NSF SEED Grant to Advance STEM Education Through Historic HBCU Community College Collaboration听

Montgomery,听Ala-.听Trenholm State Community听College, in partnership with听Drake State Community & Technical College听and Lawson State Community College, has been awarded a $500,000 National Science Foundation (NSF)听grant for听a听project听named听the听Semiconductor听Exposure, Exploration, and Development (SEED): Collaborative to Broaden Participation in STEM Education.听听

The grant award period runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029.听

This landmark award highlights the collective strength of three of Alabama’s Historically Black Community Colleges as they work together to identify innovative strategies that expand access to STEM education and prepare students for emerging opportunities in the semiconductor and advanced technology sectors.听

The听SEED Collaborative aims to听create new pathways for student engagement, exploration, and career development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while strengthening institutional capacity to support workforce needs in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries.听

This NSF investment reinforces the importance of realigning and elevating applied science pathways to meet the nation’s growing advanced manufacturing needs.听听

This investment听also听recognizes the applied sciences as a vital connector across traditional STEM disciplines, strengthening both workforce preparation and scientific discovery by fostering interdisciplinary approaches that translate theory into innovation within the semiconductor and advanced technology sectors.听

鈥淭his grant represents an extraordinary opportunity to connect our students to the future of innovation and advanced manufacturing,”听said听Dr. Kemba Chambers, President of 糖心logo入口.听“By collaborating with fellow Historically Black Community Colleges, we are broadening participation in STEM fields and ensuring that talented students from our communities have access to emerging opportunities in the semiconductor industry. Together, we are building a stronger, more diverse workforce that听will help drive technological advancement and economic growth throughout our region and beyond.”听

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“This award reflects a shared commitment among our institutions to broaden participation in STEM education and create transformative opportunities for students,”听said听Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State Community & Technical College.听“Through collaboration, innovation, and a focus on student success, we are positioning our students to thrive in the high-demand careers that will shape the future economy.”听

“Lawson State is proud to be part of this transformative partnership that expands access to high-quality STEM education and prepares our students for careers in one of the nation’s most critical and rapidly growing industries,”听said听Dr. Cynthia T. Anthony, President of Lawson State Community College.听“Through the HBCU CHIPS Network and the SEED initiative, we are creating new pathways for students to gain the skills, exposure, and industry connections needed to succeed in semiconductor and advanced technology careers. This investment strengthens not only our institution, but also the economic vitality and workforce potential of the communities we serve.”听

The partnership between Drake State, 糖心logo入口, and Lawson State听Community College听demonstrates the power of collaboration among Historically Black Community Colleges to address workforce challenges and increase diversity in STEM fields. Together, the institutions will leverage their unique strengths and resources to create a model for expanding access to semiconductor education and workforce development.听

Supporting this effort will be Dr. George White, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and听co-founder of the听HBCU CHIPS Network. Dr. White’s expertise and leadership will help guide the collaborative’s efforts to strengthen pathways into semiconductor careers and foster greater participation in STEM disciplines among underrepresented students.听

The NSF-funded project comes at a pivotal time as industry, government, and educational institutions work to build a robust domestic semiconductor workforce. Through the SEED initiative, the three colleges will explore innovative educational models, expand student听exposure to STEM opportunities, and enhance career readiness for future technology leaders.听

The SEED project underscores the ongoing commitment to advancing educational excellence, fostering innovation, and creating equitable opportunities for students pursuing STEM careers.听

About听Trenholm听State Community College听
H. Councill 糖心logo入口 is a public, two-year institution within the Alabama Community College System serving the River Region of central Alabama. For more than 60 years, the College has provided accessible, high-quality academic, technical, and workforce education that prepares students for in-demand careers, university transfer, and lifelong success. Through innovative programs and strong industry partnerships, Trenholm State creates pathways to credentials, careers, and continued education that strengthen both individuals and the communities it serves. Learn more at听.听

About National Science Foundation听

The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories.听NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to:听

• 笔谤辞尘辞迟别鈥�the progress of science.听

• 础诲惫补苍肠别鈥�the national health, prosperity and welfare.听

• 厂别肠耻谤别鈥�the national defense.听

Learn more about National Science Foundation:听听

About HBCU CHIPS Network Industry Board听听

HBCU CHIPS Network Industry Advisory Board听(IAB)听is comprised of more than twenty companies engaged in semiconductor and microelectronics education and workforce development, including Synopsys, GlobalFoundries, Semiconductor Research Corporation, and Micron. As ongoing partners to the HBCU CHIPS Network, these companies provide strategic guidance on national semiconductor workforce trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in technician preparation.听听

For SEED, the HBCU CHIPS Network IAB will serve in a consultative role, offering feedback on the transferability of SEED’s curriculum templates and professional development models, identifying opportunities for alignment with other HBCU CHIPS initiatives, and informing dissemination to additional two-year and four-year partners, without requiring duplicative letters of commitment for this project.听