WINONA LAKE - In addition to math, science and English courses, local high schools offer culinary arts, health care and welding courses.
But as Wawasee Area Career & Technical Cooperative Director Phil Metcalf said Thursday, the programs are one of the area's "best-kept secrets."
Those "secrets" were exposed Thursday morning during the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Education Summit XIII. The theme of the summit this year was "Pathways from High School to Life," and focused on career and technical education.The morning started at 7 a.m. with Whitko Culinary Arts Program students and adviser Diana Ciolli serving breakfast. Like all the other programs presented, students in the Culinary Arts Program are from several area schools.
Culinary arts also was the focus of one of the panel discussions held during the summit. Other panel discussions included health care, welding and Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education programs. A fifth panel included program advisors and career center directors discussing the growth and future of career and technical education.
Before the panel discussions, Metcalf and Warsaw Area Career Center & Technical Education Director Bill Kovach gave an overview of the programs offered.
Metcalf said the programs provide students with an opportunity to explore various jobs. After participating in the health care program, Metcalf said, students may decide health care isn't for them. If they like it, they can go on and possibly earn duel credit, certification and make connections for their careers.
The Warsaw and Wawasee career centers created a partnership several years ago with Ivy Tech and local businesses. The health care system program was one of the new programs started through the partnership.
Next year, Metcalf said, they are going to try to offer law enforcement. "There are a lot of other programs we hope to offer in the future," he said.
Funding for the programs comes from the state and federal grants and class fees.
"We are very, very proud of what we offer in this community," said Metcalf.
Kovach said with the duel credits offered in some courses, high school students can take courses that can go toward college credit.
Kovach said they are looking at the possibility of having programs for students interested in firefighting, hospitality and marine mechanics.
The first panel discussion of the day was on the health care systems program.
"The reason I'm passionate about this program is my students," said advisor Mona Shepherd, Kosciusko Community Hospital. "They're passionate about it."
The purpose of the course, she said, is for students to explore career opportunities in the health care arena. In January, students will go on 25 rotations, which will allow them to experience the work of nurses, medical technicians and other workers. Each week, students talk about their experiences.
"They may go to OB and not see a delivery, while someone else may see three to four," said Shepherd.
Fairfield High School graduate Brooke Penrod said through the program she realized pathology was a career she wanted to pursue. She wants to go into research.
"I want to make a bigger difference, I want to leave my mark," Penrod said.
Chris Morr is the adviser for welding technology through the Warsaw Career Center, and it's held at Lakeview Middle School.
Morr said his class starts a new weld every Monday. They practice it all week, and test on it on Fridays. Students are working toward certification, which takes two years. A welder with certification may make $4 to $5 more per hour than a welder without certification.
Student Eli Wise, Whitko, said his class "had everything to do with my success." Wise took second place in a statewide welding competition, and with his partner, took second place overall.
Wawasee student Jacob Shisler said Keystone RV Co. already offered him a job once he completes high school and the welding program. He said he will make about $33 per hour.
Ciolli said the culinary arts program is in its second year. "My inspiration for this is my passion for cooking," she said.
Students do a little bit of book work, but most of the class work is hands on. The class is required to do seven catering events, but they have tripled that and are booked through December, she said.
"I've benefitted in many ways from this program," said Briana Couch, Whitko. She said the class is like a family and they have developed many long-term friendships. "I've always loved food. I've learned it's a lot of hard work, a lot of patience."
Kerry Murphy, Wawasee Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education, said ICE is work based. Students go to school half a day, then work in the community for the other half. It's a year-long program offered to juniors and seniors. Each student is placed in a business that must provide 15 hours of work each week. A training and obligation plan is set up for each student.
Student Courtney Cox said the cooperative program has helped her improve her communication and computer skills, and in being a leader. She works at the Oakwood Inn.
"Anything you do with a high school student is definitely high risk," said student Ariel Meyers. But she said she feels the ICE program and class work prepares students well for real jobs. "Being in this program is something you're not given, you have to want it."
The last panel of the morning included Metcalf, Kovach, Morr, Ciollo, Shepherd and Murphy fielding questions from the audience. The panel was asked how students can be pushed to these kind of programs, and how the programs can be expanded and funded.
