FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EPIC convening brings education, industry, workforce and community leaders together to turn emerging technology investment into local opportunity FORT STOCKTON, Texas — August 2026 — As data centers, artificial intelligence and other...
Emily Birdwell
Rural Empowerment Conference Brings Rural Leaders Together to Take Opportunity to the “Next Level”
Collegiate Edu-Nation’s annual conference connects education, workforce, industry and community leaders committed to building stronger futures for rural communities Rural leaders from across Texas and beyond came together this summer for Collegiate Edu-Nation’s (CEN)...
White Deer ISD Awarded More Than $1.63 Million to Expand Postsecondary Success and Serve as a Regional Rural Education Model
Three-year investment will strengthen college and career pathways while positioning White Deer ISD as a demonstration site for rural innovation Click here for pdf version White Deer ISD has been awarded $1,637,350 through The Moody Foundation's M-Pact Fund to expand...
Hamlin Collegiate ISD Awarded More Than $1.26 Million to Expand Postsecondary Success for Rural Students
Three-year investment will strengthen college access, dual credit opportunities, and workforce pathways for Hamlin families Click here for pdf version Hamlin Collegiate ISD has been awarded $1,264,725 through The Moody Foundation's M-Pact Fund to expand college and...
Collegiate Edu-Nation Welcomes Chris Coxon as President
Experienced education and nonprofit leader to advance CEN's mission of transforming rural education and workforce systems. Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Coxon as President, ushering in a new era of leadership focused on...
Thirteen Rural Texas Initiatives Awarded More Than $20.3 Million to Expand Student Success and Economic Opportunity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thirteen Rural Texas Initiatives Awarded More Than $20.3 Million to Expand Student Success and Economic Opportunity Three-year investment will strengthen workforce pipelines, increase postsecondary attainment, and create new opportunities for...
Collegiate Edu-Nation and Spurger ISD Celebrate First Cohort of Students Signing for Future Opportunities
SPURGER, Texas — Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) and Spurger Independent School District proudly celebrated a historic milestone in May as the first cohort of students participated in a signing ceremony recognizing their commitment to pursuing future educational and...
It’s Never Too Late: How One Rural Educator Turned a Dream Into Reality
After years of serving students in Throckmorton, Gay Hibbits returned to college, earned her teaching certification, and is preparing to lead a classroom in the community she has always called home. For years, Gay Hibbits poured into students in Throckmorton...
Collegiate Edu-Nation Launches Public Phase of $15 Million “North Star Venture” Campaign to Expand Opportunity Across Rural Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Collegiate Edu-Nation Launches Public Phase of $15 Million “North Star Venture” Campaign to Expand Opportunity Across Rural Communities Grapevine, Texas — During the 2026 Rural Empowerment Conference (REC), Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) officially...
Students Showcase Engineering Talent at 2026 TSTC Big Country KidWind Challenge; Several Teams Advance to World Competition
The 2026 TSTC Big Country KidWind Challenge brought together student engineers from across the region for a day of innovation, teamwork, and renewable energy exploration. Twenty teams representing five school districts — Colorado ISD, Floydada Collegiate ISD, Hamlin...
