WATERVLIET, N.Y. -- A new program is putting students ahead of the game and walking across the graduation stage with an associate's degree.

The $3 million grant is billed to get students ready for jobs in the tech field. The grant is aimed at helping students get a college education while still in high school and build relationships with businesses around the region.

The program will focus on jobs in technology, manufacturing and in the health care field.

Watervliet will be one of the hubs for the program, but students from other Capital Region schools can enroll. It will be a partnership with Mohonasen High School, BOCES, and Schenectady and Hudson Valley community colleges.