Growing up: Career learning takes root at vo-tech school

Farrell Wasson doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. He's right at home learning about horticulture in a greenhouse.

Zach McCullough already works as a welder but wants to improve his skills.

Russell Amelunke wants to be a chef on a luxury cruise ship.

Factory worker Sheila Hahn lost her job. Now she spends her days training for a new career as a cook.

All are students at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, where hands-on learning occurs in a wide range of subjects from computer technology to nursing.

Center director Rich Payne constantly looks at ways to expand course offerings. "We have done it to meet enrollment demands and to meet employer demands," said Payne, who trumpets the center's mission and successes to anyone who will listen.

"Our role is to provide entry-level employees for our region," he said.

It's a never-ending job fueled by the growing demands of business.

Nationwide from 2002 to 2012, 42 million job openings are projected for new workers without college degrees. That's more than three times the number expected for workers with bachelor's degrees, state education officials say.

Even so, many of the jobs will require technical training beyond high school. Career centers can provide that training, Payne said.

Wasson, a 17-year-old Scott City High School senior, has his own lawn-mowing business. He's enrolled in a yearlong horticulture class, part of a two-year horticulture program that teaches students about everything from landscape design to plant science.

"It is a lot of hands on, and it is real fun," said Wasson.

Christine Glastetter, 19, of Benton, Mo., graduated from Kelly High School last year. She now works at a Jackson nursery and landscape business. Her boss encouraged her to enroll in the class.

She enjoys being in the greenhouse. "I really like growing seeds up," she said.

McCullough, a 17-year-old senior from Jackson High School, already works part time as a welder at a local machine shop. He's fine-tuning his skills three hours each school day in a career center welding class.

Shane Hodges, an 18-year-old junior from Leopold High School, is a new student to welding. He's excited about his future. "There is big money in welding," said Hodges.

His face covered by a protective mask, Hodges practiced welding in the classroom shop as sparks flew around him.

Welding instructor Everett Hinze said his graduates usually find good jobs in the welding trade. "An 18-year-old can get out and work for $10 an hour," he said, "versus $6 an hour for flipping hamburgers."

Amelunke, an 18-year-old Jackson High School senior, is in the second year of cooking classes at the career center. This day he prepared a pot of vegetable beef soup in the career center kitchen.

He plans to enroll in an 18-month cooking school in Louisville, Ky., after he graduates from high school this spring. After working on a cruise ship he eventually hopes to open his own restaurant.

Hahn, a culinary classmate, worked at the Rubbermaid factory in Jackson for 12 years before losing her job in a round of layoffs. The Chaffee, Mo., woman is taking the cooking class in the hope of getting hired as a cook at an area restaurant.

The state is paying for her education under a retraining program for laid off workers.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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