As part of a community effort to help workers affected by recent aviation layoffs in Wichita, WSU Tech has announced a scholarship program that will be available to workers to upgrade their skills or finish a degree.

WSU Tech president Sheree Utash said the Wichita Promise scholarships will be available to cover tuition and fees for eligible workers.  She said classes will begin as soon as March, and they will run for 6 to 8 weeks on a half-day schedule.   Dr. Utash is calling on affected workers to take advantage of the opportunity to build their skill set and build certifications, so they will have extra skills when they return to the workforce.

Sedgwick County commission chairman Pete Meitzner, Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple, and Workforce Alliance president Keith Lawing joined Dr. Utash for the announcement of the scholarship program on Friday.

Workers can call WSU Tech or send an email to upskill@wsutech.edu to set up a time with an advisor, and there will be information sessions scheduled in the coming weeks.