Wilkes Community College Ashe Campus Honored with 2025 NABCA George Giacumakis Innovation Award for GE Aerospace Partnership

Wilkes Community College Ashe Campus Honored with 2025 NABCA George Giacumakis Innovation Award for GE Aerospace Partnership

West Jefferson, NC – June 2, 2025 – Wilkes Community College (WCC) Ashe Campus has been awarded the prestigious 2025 George Giacumakis Innovation Award by the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators (NABCA). The award, presented at NABCA’s 28th Annual Conference in Asheville, North Carolina, recognizes WCC’s transformative partnership with GE Aerospace in workforce development and community engagement.

Dr. Caleb Marsh, Dean of the Ashe Campus, accepted the award at the ceremony in Asheville, NC, on Thursday, May 28. “The Ashe Campus isn’t just some college in our community — we are the community’s college!” he noted in his remarks. “What makes our campus so special is the emphasis we place on community partnerships, like those with GE Aerospace. We are incredibly honored to accept this award and promise to continue this work for years to come!”

Named in honor of Dr. George Giacumakis, the award celebrates institutions that have strategically advanced their branch campuses through innovative practices. WCC Ashe Campus stood out for its collaborative efforts with GE Aerospace, which have significantly bolstered regional economic growth and educational opportunities.

Dr. Caleb Marsh (center)

“This award is a testament to the power of partnership. By combining Wilkes Community College’s dedication to accessible, high-quality education with GE Aerospace’s vision for a future-ready workforce, we’ve created a training model that is not just innovation, but truly transformative,” said Rickey Roten, Coordinator of Business and Industry Training at WCC. “This is about building more thank skills; it’s about building careers and strengthening or community.”

The partnership has led to the establishment of state-of-the-art training facilities, including a CNC Machining lab, and has facilitated customized training programs that align with GE Aerospace’s operational requirements. These initiatives have resulted in the creation of over 200 jobs and have enhanced the skillsets of both new and existing employees.

 Instructor for the program Chris Bare added “The keys to a successful project are a thorough understanding of the desired outcomes by all parties involved; continuous open and frank communication; continuous improvement and flexibility with all aspects of the course(s); and continuous evaluation and communication with the former students to assess relevance and quality of the curriculum.”

In addition to the NABCA award, WCC and GE Aerospace were recently honored with the 2025 Innovative Leadership Award by the North Carolina Community College System, further acknowledging their joint commitment to workforce excellence.

Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC has a proud history of meeting the educational, cultural, and workforce needs of our community. As we look to the future, Wilkes Community College provides programs, resources, and services that create quality educational, economic development, and cultural opportunities. WCC aspires to be an effective, learner-centered institution and a dynamic learning organization, preparing students for success in a changing world.