On July 23, Aubri Hanson received the NC3 Festo Instructor of the Year Award during the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) Annual Leadership Summit in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The award recognizes technical educators who show a strong commitment to career and technical education and student success through the NC3 program.

“Aubri Hanson exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines the NC3 Festo network,” Festo Program Manager Lisa Marshall said. “As a leading advocate for NC3 certifications across seven different industry partners, she has consistently championed the value of skills-based training to strengthen workforce pipelines. Her willingness to work with schools in other states to develop and expand programs has made a lasting impact on technical education across North America.”

“Aubri Hanson exemplifies what it takes to be a leader in education,” Festo Didactic Inc. Director Business Development Steve Lehr said. “Her persistence and obvious passion sets her apart from her peers. Festo is proud that Mrs. Hanson has chosen to work with us in building one of the strongest programs in the nation. Her students, school, industry and community will continue to share the benefits of her dedication.”

Hanson joined the Enterprise State Community College in the spring of 2019 to develop and lead the Mechatronics program. Since launching in Fall 2019, the program has grown from 12 students to 75 in Spring 2025. Students have also earned 5,455 of credentials from Festo, Snap-on, Greenlee, and other NC3 partners.

In addition to individual credentials, the College now offers:

• Eight short-term certificate options, one that is transferable to Troy University
• One long-term certificate
• One associate degree that is fully transferable to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Under Hanson’s leadership, instructional staff has grown to six instructors, two of whom are former graduates of the program. The program is now being taught in three locations: the Ozark and Enterprise campuses of ESCC and the Troy-Pike Center for Technology. The program’s success has also earned the College the designation of am NC3 Center of Excellence.

In 2024, Hanson was named the chair for the College’s new Division of Applied Technology, which includes mechatronics, welding, automotive technology and plumbing. She was also the recipient of an ACCS Chancellor’s Award for Technical Faculty of the Year in 2024 for ESCC.

“I am honored to have been selected for this award out of all the fantastic technology instructors that NC3 and Festo work with in North America,” Hanson said. “I have a wonderful network of family, friends, administrators, co-workers, and colleagues from other institutions and industry that have all pitched in to help propel myself and this program to the current level of success. I am excited for what the future holds, as we continue to grow and develop the future of manufacturing education in our community, our state, and our nation.”