LIT Receives $324K ATE Grant from National Science Foundation

10/2/2025

Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) has received a $324,657 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. government’s independent science agency. This three-year grant will fund LIT’s Industrial Safety Training Using Virtual Reality (VR) project, enhancing safety instruction in Process Operating Technology and Instrumentation Technology, with plans to expand across more programs in the future. The grant will provide VR equipment and training software specifically tailored to industry in our region.

“We are proud to be awarded the NSF ATE grant—the first of its kind for LIT,” said Dr. Sidney Valentine, President of Lamar Institute of Technology. “This project advances our strategic goal of integrating cutting-edge technology into workforce training and responds directly to the needs of regional employers who have identified safety as a top priority. By preparing students with immersive, real-world training, we are strengthening both our graduates and the industries they serve.”

The project introduces immersive VR and Augmented Reality (AR) modules to simulate real-world safety scenarios in a risk-free environment.

“The Industrial Safety using Virtual Reality project directly addresses industry-driven safety concerns by enhancing the existing safety curriculum with immersive VR and Augmented Reality experiences. These modules improve their ability to apply safety protocols and develop a strong safety-first mindset,” said Chelsea Hoke, Instrumentation Program Director. As principal investigator, Hoke will lead the initiative with LIT representatives James Robinson, Dr. Valerie Worry, and Aminatta Kamara, and in partnership with ExxonMobil Beaumont and Scallon Controls, an Emerson Impact Partner.

The grant proposal originated in 2023 with mentoring and technical support from Mentor-Connect, which provides guidance and technical resources to help two-year college faculty write competitive grant proposals. Mentor-Connect is an ATE project led by Florence-Darlington Technical College in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges.

“As Principal Investigator of our grant, I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support provided by Mentor Connect, which helped our college gain entry into the nationwide ATE Community” said Hoke.

The ATE program focuses on the education of technicians who work in high-tech fields that drive the nation’s economy. Because two-year community and technical colleges are the leading sources of technician education in the United States, faculty from these higher education institutions have had leadership roles in most ATE projects since the program began in 1993.

Registration begins November 7, 2025 for Spring 2026 classes. For more information visit https://ate.is/VRsafety or email vaworry@lit.edu.