It’s a big month for those in Career and Technical Education (CTE) as our community gathers to celebrate the positive impacts of CTE on Nevada's students and workforce. With our CTE Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center, there’s really no better time to explore if these dynamic professions could be right for you. Live demonstrations of automotive, diesel, welding, machining, robotics, architecture, HVAC programs and many more will take place throughout the event, giving you the chance to get a firsthand look at the range of career paths laid out before you.
CTE for You and Me
Who doesn’t love a good interactive booth? We sure do. With a diverse assortment of disciplines in Career and Technical Education, the Open House format will introduce you to these elements in the best way it knows how: hands-on instruction. You’ll be immersed in feeling, shaping, examining, and constructing as you learn what each featured department brings to the table. You’ll get to visualize the labs and equipment used in these expansive, and modern, lines of work, along with the marvel of self-guided robots that help you sharpen your craft without putting yourself in danger. It’s truly an industrialized amusement park, you just need to punch your ticket.
Besides robots, past events have included hands-on learning with virtual welding machines, specialized mannequins for paramedics, and playing games with chess pieces made right there by students in the Machining Program.
Kyle Cassinelli, Assistant Director of Career and Technical Education Programs, discussed the advantages to be gained from your participation in the CTE Open House.
“We invite all prospective students and interested community members to the CTE Open House for a firsthand look at some of TMCC’s Career and Technical Education offerings. There is something for everyone in CTE at TMCC, and we hope the community will come check it out,” Cassinelli said.
In addition to all the firsthand learning taking place, TMCC representatives from Financial Aid, Student Support Services, the CTE College Credit Program, the Jump Start Dual Credit Program, and ACE High School will be in attendance to answer your questions concerning academic enrollment and other opportunities available to you. When you’re not conversing with our experts, be sure to participate in the scavenger hunt, nab a raffle ticket and grab some savory snacks to take home and enjoy later.
Celebrating Students and Educators
So, why choose CTE? To break it down, CTE prepares you with the technical, intellectual, and practical expertise necessary to succeed in the workplace. Today’s cutting-edge automations and relevant Career and Technical Education schooling will prepare you for a vast spectrum of great jobs with prime salaries. Earning college credits while still being in high school has created tremendous benefits for those who remain on track to graduate. Students of all ages can pursue this study knowing their efforts have been fruitful when they feel ahead of the curve in the office.
Some fresh statistics for you: Data distributed by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) indicated that 51 percent of jobs in Nevada require skills training that consists of more education than high school, but less than a four-year degree. Only 48 percent of Nevada workers are qualified at that position. CTE is prepared to fill that gap!
“By pairing academic and technical skills using industry-standard equipment throughout instruction, CTE can provide a learning experience like nothing else,” said Cassinelli, “and it can lead students to the high-skill, high-demand, and high-wage careers needed most in Northern Nevada and beyond.”
This February for National CTE Month, we’re saluting the accomplishments of exceptional CTE learners, commendable teachers, and motivating partners in our community. They’ve gone above and beyond the traditional college expectations to genuinely shape the next generation of professionals for a world that keeps evolving before our eyes. Even with all the technology that exists, nothing can compare to a profound human sense that your instructors care about you. The Open House is a beacon of that commitment to our students, so come discover why your college dreams are achievable with a little guidance from TMCC.
For more information, please visit the Applied Technologies website or call 775-337-5658.