At around 10:40 every day, 28 juniors and seniors are dismissed to make the trip to State Fair Community College’s Career and Technology Center to take hands-on courses and earn vocational certifications.
Career and Technology Center is a program that provides multiple classes to many students: Building Trades, Precision Machining, Graphic Design, Criminal Justice, Automotive Technology, Welding, Health Occupations, and Child Care. The program consists of juniors and seniors only.
There are 28 students going to CTC this school year, including: seniors, Haylie Allen, Emma Binnie, Paige Collier, Jayden Culbertson, Hunter Eledge, Draven Groves, Eastynn Holt, Kathryn Lomax, and Megan Tenold, and juniors Henry Beshears, Jessie Bilderback, Brody Burnworth, David Glenn, Mason Gollihar, Isaac Henderson, Wyett Hilburn, DaVeigha Holt, Chloie Jordan, Ivy Kelsey, Amarillo Martinez, Urijah Phillips, Kaleb Ragel, D’Angelo Ramirez, Talan Ross, Jacob Shannon, Kimberly Tenold, Michael Turner, and Naomi Yoder.
The CTC program is an opportunity to put high school students on their toes for their future, or to have a plan to fall back on in case specific plans fail.
“I am going to be going into the welding field after high school, and, with it being a flexible career, I’ll be taking time in between jobs to get certifications in electronics and engines so that I can become a heavy engine diesel mechanic,” junior welding student Kimberly Tenold said.
“Graphic design is a backup plan if my career in Meteorology doesn’t go well,” junior, graphic design student Jacob Shannon said.
Not every student gets what they hope from the CTC programs.
“It doesn’t help me with my future career; it’s not the program I wanted,I wanted welding,” junior, precision machining student Wyett Hilburn said.
The program provides many opportunities, and those who participate have some favorite aspects of the program.
“It teaches skills that schools won’t and is actually fun,” junior precision machining student Urijah Phillips said.
“My favorite part is the program helps me gain more knowledge to working on my own vehicles,” senior automotive technology student Eastynn Holt said.
“New friendships, the gaining of knowledge for future careers, and building life skills you will use daily throughout your lifetime are all advantages of taking the class,” junior, health occupations student Jessie Bilderback said.
“The quietness my class brings has to be the best part,” senior graphic design student Emma Binnie said.
“I love having a moment to talk to my friends on the bus ride to the college,” junior criminal justice, Kaleb Ragle said.
The Career and Technology Center program maintains a positive impact on the participants lives, but not always does it stay positive. There are also drawbacks that come with being in the program.
“Lots of work, not being one hundred percent sure if you will get into the same class next year and missing out on high school activities are cons,” junior health occupations student DaVeigha Holt said.
“I dislike the fact we do have to attend school on Mondays,” junior health occupations student Amarillo Martinez said.
“Missing assembly, and many other in-school activities does suck,” senior building trades student Hunter Eledge said.
“I enjoy the class I take and would say there are very few cons, but it does get super hot in there sometime,” junior welding student D’Angelo Ramirez said.
As cons are seen by few, pros are also seen by many. Some see absolutely no problem and find enjoyment daily as a participant, with very little complaining.
“I see no problem with it, I enjoy it,” junior, automotive technology, Brody Burnworth.
“Leaving school is the biggest pro alone,” junior building trades student Isaac Henderson said.
“It’s lots of free time, and teaches me daily jobs and tasks,” senior, building trades student Draven Groves said.
Joining CTC for these students was for different reasons, some being a “just because,” with no reasoning behind it, and some having a more defined meaning behind it.
“I do building trades.I joined because my mom and I make and build stuff all the time,” senior Kathryn Lomax said.
“I joined because my older brother was in it,” senior precision machining student Jayden Culbertson said.
“I joined because I believe it was a beneficiary to my knowledge upon this field,” junior precision machining student Michael Turner said.
“I want to get my CNA and start my medical career earlier than someone typically would,” junior health occupations student Naomi Yoder said.
“The new opportunities, but also leaving school made me join,” senior graphic design student Megan Tenold said.
These programs help students meet their future career goals.
“It prepares me for a real life situation that I will go through,” junior health occupations student Chloie Jordan said.
“I have an OSHA 10 already and I am earning my certifications for welding,” senior welding student Paige Collier said.
“It teaches me how to be a cop and to know all of the laws and ways beforehand daily,” senior criminal justice student Haylie Allen said.