Career center faculty shows off its students, programs

It was an afternoon of networking at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center Thursday as community members, business representatives and instructors gathered for a luncheon to celebrate American Career and Technology Education Week.

All along the walls were exhibits from each program displaying tools students learn to use and the projects they create.

The luncheon allowed businesses, which often hire students after graduation, a look into the classroom experience. The business representatives form an advisory committee that works closely with the school to assure the students are prepared for their future jobs. The committee can speak with instructors and see for themselves what the students are learning and if there is anything missing.

David Papendick, electronics instructor at CTC, has incorporated the committee's suggestions into his program. A cable company once expressed the importance for employees to understand how to navigate maps as the job requires traveling from home to home.

"Map skills are not normally taught in electronic classes," Papendick said. But because it is a necessary part of the cable job and requested by the company, Papendick was eager to add the skill to the electronic program.

The promising prospect of a job is the reason automotive technology student Tyler McNeely enrolled in CTC instead of a typical four-year college.

"It gets me out in the job field faster," he said.

Local high school students are also intrigued by the quick training at CTC. An average of 10 students from Notre Dame Regional High School enroll each year, said Linda Meadows, Notre Dame counselor.

She says the CTC classes provide the high school students with another training avenue.

"They get a head start on the training for things that they are interested in," said Meadows.

Workplace Readiness is a two week class which equips students with practical skills such as how to dress for a job, how to interview and how to format a resume. It is important for those entering the work force for the first time or who need a refresher course.

Carol Coventry is a work force development specialist for Missouri Career Center. Many of the people she works with have lost their jobs due to a factory closing and need help beginning a new career. Coventry refers them to the workplace readiness at CTC as a beginning point in their recovery.

"It boosts their confidence," she said. "It gets them excited to work."

cpierce@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127