Cookeville High School Partners with Tennessee Tech for Workforce Readiness Program

High school students in Cookeville are getting a head start on careers in some of Tennessee's fastest-growing industries.

Cookeville High School and Tennessee Tech University announced a partnership Tuesday that will allow eligible high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit and industry certifications in advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare — three sectors with critical workforce shortages across the Upper Cumberland region.

The program, called the Upper Cumberland Career Pathways Initiative, will begin with approximately 60 students in the fall 2026 semester and expand to 150 students by the 2027-2028 academic year.

Addressing a Real Need

Cookeville, with a population of approximately 36,000, is the largest city in the Upper Cumberland region and serves as a regional hub for healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The area has seen steady job growth, but employers report difficulty filling positions requiring technical skills.

According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Upper Cumberland region had more than 1,200 unfilled manufacturing positions and 900 unfilled healthcare support roles as of early 2026.

"We hear it from employers all the time — they have jobs open and can't find people with the right skills," said Cookeville High School Principal Lisa Brown. "This program lets our students graduate high school with not just a diploma, but with real certifications and college credit in fields where jobs are waiting for them."

How It Works

Students in the program will split their day between traditional high school coursework and hands-on training at Tennessee Tech's campus or at partner employer facilities. The program offers three tracks:

• Advanced Manufacturing: Students earn OSHA-10 certification, learn CNC operation and robotics fundamentals, and complete an internship at a local manufacturer.
• Information Technology: Students work toward CompTIA A+ certification and gain experience in network administration and cybersecurity basics.
• Healthcare: Students earn Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) preparation and complete clinical rotations at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Tuition for the dual-enrollment courses is covered through Tennessee's HOPE Scholarship program and a $150,000 annual grant from the Upper Cumberland Workforce Development Board.

A Model for Rural Communities

Tennessee Tech President Philip Oldham called the partnership a model for how universities and K-12 systems can collaborate to address rural workforce challenges.

"Cookeville is uniquely positioned — we have a university, a major medical center, and a growing manufacturing sector all within a few miles of each other," Oldham said. "If we can connect high school students to those opportunities early, we keep talent here in the Upper Cumberland instead of watching it leave for Nashville or Knoxville."

The program has already secured commitments from six local employers — including Averitt Express, Cummins Filtration, and Cookeville Regional Medical Center — to provide internships and priority hiring consideration for students who complete the program.

For students like 16-year-old Sarah Whitfield, a rising junior who plans to enroll in the healthcare track, the program offers a practical path forward.

"I've wanted to work in healthcare since I was little, but I wasn't sure how I'd afford nursing school," Whitfield said. "With this program, I can graduate high school already certified as a medical assistant and start working while I go to nursing school. That changes everything for my family."