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 students and communities across Texas
Thirteen rural Texas organizations have been awarded more than $20.3 million in grant funding through The Moody Foundation’s M-Pact Fund to expand college and career opportunities, strengthen workforce readiness, and drive economic growth across rural communities.
Beginning July 1, 2026, the initiatives will be implemented over a three-year period through innovative partnerships among school districts, community organizations, employers, and regional stakeholders. Collectively, the projects represent a significant investment in the future of rural Texas and a shared commitment to ensuring that students and adult learners have access to high-quality pathways that lead to postsecondary success and family-sustaining careers.
The funded organizations include Cumby Collegiate ISD, Floydada Collegiate ISD, Roscoe Collegiate ISD, San Augustine ISD, Seagraves ISD, White Deer ISD, Marathon ISD, the Deep East Texas College & Career Alliance (DETCCA), the Museum of the West Texas Frontier, Colorado ISD, HamlinCollegiate ISD, Post ISD, and Throckmorton Collegiate ISD.
Together, these organizations will implement initiatives designed to address regional workforce needs while expanding
Seagraves High School Principal Daylan Sellers accepts The Moody Foundation grant from Collegiate Edu-Nation Chief Financial Officer Kendall Guynes during the Awards Luncheon at the Rural Empowerment Conference.
educational opportunity for thousands of students and community members. The projects will increase access to dual credit coursework, industry-recognized certifications, career and technical education programs, apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning experiences, and workforce training opportunities aligned with local economic priorities.
The initiatives span a wide range of high-demand industries, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, skilled trades, construction, transportation, education, business, cybersecurity, and public service. Several projects will establish or expand innovative career pathways, strengthen college readiness systems, enhance STEM education opportunities, develop employer partnerships, and create new opportunities for students to earn college credentials and workforce certifications before graduation.
Representatives from several of the organizations receiving The Moody Foundation grants gather for a commemorative photo during Collegiate Edu-Nation’s Rural Empowerment Conference Awards Luncheon. Grant recipients represent school districts and partner organizations across rural Texas. Not all grant recipients are pictured.
Beyond individual program outcomes, the investment is expected to create lasting regional impact by strengthening talent pipelines, addressing workforce shortages, increasing postsecondary attainment, and supporting long-term economic development in rural communities. By aligning education, workforce development, and industry engagement, these initiatives will help ensure that students can pursue meaningful careers while contributing to the prosperity of their hometowns and regions.
“Rural communities are home to extraordinary talent, resilience, and potential,” said Dr. Susan Grove, Chief Development Officer for Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN). “This investment reflects a bold commitment to expanding opportunity and ensuring that students—regardless of geography—have access to the education, experiences, and credentials needed to thrive in today’s economy. Through these initiatives, we are strengthening pathways to college and careers, building partnerships that connect learning to workforce needs, and creating opportunities that will benefit students, families, employers, and communities for generations to come.”
Dr. Susan Grove, Chief Development Officer, and Michelle Carroll Smith, Chief of Schools at Collegiate Edu-Nation, present The Moody Foundation grant awards during the Awards Luncheon at the Rural Empowerment Conference.
As implementation begins this summer, participating organizations will work alongside educators, employers, higher education partners, and community leaders to bring these initiatives to life. Together, they represent a powerful vision for the future of rural Texas—one in which every learner has access to high-quality educational opportunities, every community can cultivate local talent, and every region can build a stronger, more competitive workforce.
About Collegiate Edu-Nation
Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) is a Texas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming rural education through innovative school models, college and career pathways, and community-driven partnerships. CEN works alongside school districts, higher education institutions, employers, and community stakeholders to increase postsecondary attainment, strengthen workforce readiness, and expand economic opportunity for students and communities across rural Texas.
