Niswonger News

Part of a nearly $4 million investment from Catalyze to help the Niswonger Foundation put its ideas into practice and connect young people to real-world experiences that build skills and confidence for the future. 

September 22, 2026–The Niswonger Foundation has received a $160,000 grant from Catalyze as part of a national effort to expand access to high-quality career-connected learning for young people. The Niswonger Foundation is one of 14 organizations nationwide selected for this round of funding.

The Niswonger Foundation’s Career Pathways program will use this grant funding to enhance student experiences in the AI and Data Science CTE pathway. 

This project, called Niswonger DataWorks, will connect rural high school students with real-world AI and data science work experiences, college credit, and industry credentials to prepare them for high-demand careers while helping regional employers develop a local talent pipeline. This project puts a particular emphasis on developing remote work-based learning (WBL) for rural students who may otherwise struggle to access these opportunities.

The Niswonger DataWorks project was selected through a competitive process that began with more than 500 applications from across the country. In April 2026, it was one of 31 organizations selected by Catalyze to receive $10,000 and three months of technical assistance from national experts to refine and strengthen its idea. Niswonger DataWorks’ model stood out for its innovative approach to creating meaningful WBL for high school students through employer partnerships, a key priority for this round of the Catalyze Challenge.

Traditional career pathways often treat WBL as an add-on, or something that’s nice to have on top of academic coursework. Niswonger DataWorks takes a fundamentally different approach by weaving employer partnerships and authentic work experiences directly into a structured program of study that simultaneously delivers college credit and industry-recognized credentials.

Current pathway partners include the University of Tennessee and seven high schools from Sullivan County, Kingsport City, Knox County and Oak Ridge Schools. This grant funding makes possible additional WBL partnerships with local employers including Ballad Health and Bell Textron.

“We are deeply grateful to be selected for this opportunity and to build on the Niswonger Foundation’s longstanding track record of bringing innovative, high-impact programs to schools across Tennessee,” said Law Loving, director of workforce readiness for the Niswonger Foundation. “We look forward to connecting students with employer-designed AI and data science experiences, credentials, and opportunities that demonstrate they can build their futures right here at home.”

In addition to the funding, the Niswonger Foundation and fellow Grantees will continue to receive technical assistance to implement, test and strengthen their approaches while generating lessons that can inform the broader career-connected learning field. The Niswonger Foundation also joins the Catalyze Community of Practice, a learning community made up of more than 100 organizations. 

“We’re excited to support this cohort as they grow impactful employer partnerships and build strong organizational infrastructure to turn the spark of innovation into transformational change for young people,” said Dr. Michelle Cheang, director of Catalyze. “We look forward to seeing these ideas come to life through meaningful career-connected learning experiences that reflect where the world of work is headed.”

Learn more about the Catalyze Challenge and most recent round of funding at https://www.catalyzechallenge.org/round-five-grant-funding. 

#######

About the Niswonger Foundation

Established in 2001, the Niswonger Foundation has a mission “to create opportunities for individual and community growth through education and other sustainable projects” that embody the Foundation’s motto: “Learn. Earn. Return.”  The Foundation’s programs primarily focus on K-12 educational excellence and are supported by charitable donations, grant funding, and personal contributions from Scott M. Niswonger. To learn more about the Niswonger Foundation or its programs, visit niswongerfoundation.org.

About Catalyze

Catalyze is a collaborative funding initiative to accelerate innovation in career-connected learning, helping young people explore, prepare for, and pursue meaningful careers. Since 2021, Catalyze has awarded over $22 million through the Catalyze Challenge and has built a community of practice of more than 100 funded organizations. Learn more at www.catalyzechallenge.org.