STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Career and Technical Educators of North Texas named the Tarleton Today dual enrollment program as 2026 CTENT Post-secondary Partner of the Year during its Scholarship Awards Luncheon May 8 at the Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning in North Richland Hills.
“This recognition reflects Tarleton State University’s strong commitment to expanding access and opportunity,” said Tarleton Today Director Shayla Hoffman. “Through Tarleton Today, we are strengthening district partnerships while helping students explore all that Tarleton State offers.”
Each year CTENT celebrates excellence in career and technical education among its members and students during a ceremony that honors contributions to CTE and provides student scholarships. Stephanie Speaks, Director of Career and Technical Education for Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, said when nominating Tarleton Today for the CTENT award she emphasized the program’s seamless integration of dual enrollment opportunities in the district’s education and training and animal science.
Tarleton Today provided the district’s first dual enrollment opportunities for CTE, and as of the 2026-27 school year, students can earn college, career and military readiness (CCMR) points by completing nine hours of dual enrollment with Tarleton Today in their Education and Training Program, the first for GCISD CTE.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with the Tarleton Today program because the barriers of dual enrollment have been broken down, allowing more opportunity for high school CTE students to earn dual credit,” Speaks said.
Tarleton Today currently offers 11 dual enrollment CTE courses and will expand to 15 for the 2026-27 academic year, Hoffman said. The program now serves 82 partner districts and 5,000 students through 24 courses across Texas. More than 2,000 of those students are high school seniors, and nearly half have applied to Tarleton State to further their education after high school, Hoffman said.
In 2026-27 the program anticipates serving 102 partner districts through 31 academic course offerings. Hoffman said Tarleton Today is focused on strengthening its district partnerships and supporting the success of high school students, particularly those who are first-generation and from low-income backgrounds, by offering dual enrollment opportunities that help open doors to college and career pathways.
“Tarleton Today will also continue working closely with district partners to create a smooth, supportive experience for educators and students alike,” said Hoffman. “By connecting students to Tarleton State’s academic programs, resources and campus opportunities, the program seeks to motivate and prepare them for success beyond high school.”
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.