In Knoxville, Tennessee, education and industry are coming together in ways that show what is possible when schools and businesses align around a shared vision. Carter High School, part of Knox County Schools, is now home to an initiative that reflects the heart of the Ford NGL Community Connected Academy model: connecting classroom learning with real career opportunities.
A Transformational Investment
The Greenheck Group, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of HVAC and air-ventilation equipment, has made a $5 million charitable commitment supporting Knox County Schools. Two million dollars of that investment will build out Carter Manufacturing—a professional-level, student-run enterprise that brings together students from multiple pathways, including engineering, welding, and marketing. The other $3 million commitment supports Engineering Tomorrow (TM), which will provide eight hands-on labs embedded in Freshman Seminar classes. These labs align with the pathways students are exploring as they make their pathway selections.
What Students Experience
At Carter High, the partnership is becoming real through the creation of a student-run manufacturing enterprise on campus. This initiative allows students to apply what they learn in engineering and manufacturing directly to authentic, hands-on work. They are not just solving textbook problems. They are designing, building, and creating in ways that mirror the professional world.
One example of this impact came to life at a recent pep rally, where students raced electric cars they had designed and built as part of the Engineering Tomorrow (TM) labs embedded in Freshman Seminar. Through these hands-on experiences, ninth-grade students apply real engineering concepts while exploring potential career pathways. These moments illustrate how learning becomes engaging and memorable when it is connected to both purpose and practice.
What starts as curiosity in Freshman Seminar doesn’t end there. As students move forward, those early sparks can grow into deeper skill-building, leadership, and real-world application, a progression designed to meet them at every stage of their high school journey.
A True Community Connection
What makes this story powerful is not only the dollars invested but the relationships built. Even before the new Greenheck facility in Knoxville is complete, the company has been actively present in schools. Representatives have visited Carter High, met with educators, hosted career fair booths, and built trust with students and staff.
This type of engagement reflects the Ford NGL Community Connected Academy model. It shows that a business partnership is most effective when it goes beyond financial support and becomes part of the culture of the school.
Why Knoxville?
When Greenheck began looking for a location for its new manufacturing campus, it considered more than 200 sites across 10 states. Knoxville rose to the top because of the quality of life, the strength of its community, and the presence of schools like Carter High that were ready to partner.
The company’s new 330-acre campus at Midway Business Park will open its first factory in fall 2026, creating more than 400 high-paying jobs. The fact that Greenheck is simultaneously investing in education shows how workforce development and community development are deeply linked.
Why This Matters
This partnership demonstrates the power of aligning education with regional economic growth. Students gain meaningful, hands-on experience and a clearer vision of career pathways. Educators benefit from industry partners who are willing to walk alongside them. And the community benefits from a pipeline of young people prepared to succeed in high-demand fields right where they live.
As Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk noted, this is what becomes possible when education and industry work together with intention.
Key Learnings for the Ford NGL Network
Knoxville’s story holds lessons for other Ford NGL communities:
- Relationships matter most. Funding is important, but true transformation happens when industry partners build trust and engage directly with students and educators.
- Start with the student experience. The work is most powerful when it creates authentic opportunities for young people to practice skills, solve problems, and see themselves in future careers.
- Align with regional priorities. By connecting Carter High’s pathways to the workforce needs of Greenheck and the broader community, the partnership is creating a win for both students and employers.
- Think long term. Greenheck is not investing for a single event or one-time gift. It is building a relationship that will grow as its new campus develops, anchoring education as part of its strategy for success.
Looking Ahead
Carter High School’s story is an example of what can happen when a community fully embraces the Ford NGL Community Connected Academy model. It shows that when schools, businesses, and community leaders work together, students not only learn differently but also see a future for themselves in the place they call home.
