– A unique, workforce-focused partnership between Crowder College and the MoDOT SW District General Services Team took the spotlight at the Missouri State Capitol on Tuesday of this week when they received the 2025 Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity (GAQP).
The partnership was created to fill a need of transportation and diesel industry shortages, rising repair costs and other factors while also helping students gain hands-on, real-world experiences and potential careers. That’s where Crowder College Technical Education instructor Clarence Brewer (Diesel Technology) and Ben Strong with MoDOT have worked to bridge that gap, addressing both the needs of MoDOT and Crowder students eager to learn. Ben Strong knows first-hand the importance of partnerships like this one, as he used to be the high school CTEC Diesel Technology instructor and is an alumnus of the college program. He has been a spearhead in the creation of this partnership.
There were 14 nominations submitted from six state agencies for the 2025 Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity and the Crowder College collaboration was awarded in the innovation category.
“The partnership between Crowder College and MoDOT represents the kind of innovative workforce collaboration that creates a valuable impact. Our Diesel Technology students gain hands-on experience by diagnosing and repairing real fleet equipment under the guidance of expert faculty, while MoDOT benefits from quality repairs and a direct connection to a pipeline of highly skilled technicians,” said Melissa Smith, Director of Post-Secondary Career and Technical Education, Crowder College. “These authentic learning opportunities bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, preparing students to meet the demands of today’s transportation and diesel industries while strengthening Missouri’s workforce.”
Within the last 3 years, the Diesel Technology program at Crowder College has repaired over 30 pieces of MoDOT equipment, saved the state more than $50,000 in labor costs, lowered repair times and facilitated internships and careers for these students with MoDOT.
