K-64 Initiative

With revitalized economic energy and growth occurring throughout the region, it is also important to invest in education and workforce development. Catawba County is committed to crafting tomorrow’s leaders through the game-changing K-64 education initiative. K-64 is a systemic approach to shaping future careers and meeting workforce demands by connecting students and employers throughout the educational curriculum. From learning in technology-rich environments to experiencing local and global employment possibilities, K-64 actively engages students of all ages in preparing for viable and sustainable careers throughout their lifetime. 

To accomplish this, K-64 focuses on six priority areas:  

•  1-to-World Technology - connecting students with the technology they need to optimize learning inside and outside the classroom;  

•  Character and Soft Skills Development - ensuring students are prepared to engage in work and in life by learning critical soft skills such as goal setting, interpersonal communication, and team building;  

•  Tech-Savvy Educators - Continually equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to incorporate leading-edge technologies into lesson plans and classroom environments; 

• Work-based Learning - Facilitating job shadowing, internships, co-ops, work-study programs and apprenticeships to connect students with global career opportunities and local employers; 

• Employer Engagement - Cultivating collaborative partnerships with businesses to invest in the development of a we/I-prepared and highly engaged workforce of tomorrow; and  

• Career Adaptability - Ensuring access to relevant educational services and training opportunities to help adults develop nimble skill sets and assure career longevity.  
    

True to the collaborative spirit of the region, local educational institutions, business organizations, and community partners work together to support K-64, including Catawba Valley Community College, Catawba County Schools, Hickory Public Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools, Catawba County Government, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, and Lenoir-Rhyne University. 

Catawba Valley Community College

Offering more than 50 programs of study and enrolling 4,800 students, Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) is a comprehensive learning community that provides a multitude of collegiate, industrial/vocational, and life-skills/personal enrichment experiences.   

CVCC consistently ranks as one of the top community colleges in the nation and is widely recognized for its innovative programs that are cultivating a new generation of doers and makers and providing individuals with the tools and training to be successful in today’s workforce.   

Hickory has a rich history of craftsmanship and furniture manufacturing. Today, the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy at CVCC is an industry-driven training program designed by local furniture manufacturers to prepare students for skilled positions that are in high demand by one of the region's largest employers.   

“Partnerships created through programs such as the Catawba Valley Manufacturing Academy, Furniture Academy, K-64, and the development of unique facilities like the Workforce Solutions Complex and the ValleySim Hospital are evidence of the momentum around exceptional talent development in Hickory and throughout the region,” said Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, President of CVCC. 

The CVCC Workforce Solutions Complex is a leading-edge 80,400-square-foot facility housing technology and engineering programs. The $25 million project is the culmination of many years of planning and collaboration with the three public school systems.   

The building includes state-of-the-art classrooms, offices, labs, and shop areas for students studying HVAC systems, welding, automotive mechanics, machining, engineering, mechatronics, and more. The Workforce Solutions Complex ensures a future pipeline of talent for high-tech jobs, making our area even more attractive to new and expanding industry. 

CVCC also continues development of its new Public Safety Training Center off Sweetwater Road in Hickory. The 55,000-square-foot training center pad is used by the college and local agencies to teach students and train seasoned public service professionals in fire safety, emergency medical service, and law enforcement. The property also contains a four-story training tower and burn building for firefighters to practice real-world skills in a simulated environment.

Lenoir Rhyne University

Founded in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne University (LR) is a co-educational, private liberal arts institution with 50 undergraduate degree programs and 20 graduate degree programs. With a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, LR enrolls more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students.

Lenoir-Rhyne continues to work with the community to identify the programs and skills it needs. LR has created new partnerships to help increase the number of teachers in North Carolina, prepare community college students for the transition to a four-year degree, and added new majors that meet the demands of students and employers. In addition, LR’s commitment to making higher education affordable and accessible continues through the Lenoir-Rhyne Promise, which offers a minimum of 50 percent off tuition to any North Carolina resident who is a first-year undergraduate student with a 3.5 or higher high school GPA, or to a transfer undergraduate student with more than 30 attempted hours from an accredited North Carolina community college and a 3.5 GPA. The University has been named a U.S. News Top 40 School for Social Mobility and Best Value in the South.

Over the years, Moretz Stadium has become a treasured part of the Lenoir-Rhyne experience as the backdrop for hosting football and men’s and women’s lacrosse, commencement, and campus events, as well as community events like concerts, high school graduations, camps, and youth sports.

In 2022, Lenoir-Rhyne embarked on an $18 million renovation of the stadium to enhance the game-day experience for student-athletes and fans. Improvements include new and enhanced grandstands, new entrances on the west and east sides, new LED lighting, new concession stands and restrooms, two new video boards, new press box, and a new fieldhouse for the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The renovation also added eight luxury suites and a club VIP seating area, making Moretz Stadium one of the few Division II schools with suites and club seating. 

“Our strong ties to the Hickory community make it possible for us to complete our student-driven mission — to develop the whole person, to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build a sense of community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world,” said Dr. Whitt.  “As we look to the future, we are committed to continuing our productive and collaborative partnership with the City.”

App State Hickory Campus

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System.  Appalachian currently enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

From the Watauga Academy of 1899 to the Appalachian State University of today, the mission has remained the same: to provide access to education. This vision now extends to the Greater Hickory area. The App State Hickory Campus opened in 2023 to become the Hickory region's first public university campus.

In the heart of the Catawba Valley, App State Hickory offers the appeal of a small college with the prestige of the Southeast’s premier public undergraduate institution. With more than 100 undergraduate majors available at the Hickory campus, App State Hickory provides the same excellence that App State in Boone is known for — small class sizes, high-quality student and faculty interaction, exciting undergraduate research opportunities, and a strong network of expert faculty, supportive staff, and more than 140,000 alumni. 

Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson, and Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton are all within a 30-minute drive of the App State Hickory Campus, and all three are partners in the Aspire Appalachian Co-Admission Program, which provides a seamless pathway for students enrolled at partner community colleges to complete their degree at App State.

"At App State, we are looking forward to building even stronger relationships and to amplifying our presence in order to serve Hickory and the greater area," added Chancellor Everts. "As we join together, our surrounding communities are elevated, and the benefits are then realized throughout the state, region, and beyond."