progress SPORTS & EDUCATION PART 2: B
Press fi le photo by Travis Fischer The North Iowa Area Community College Career Center in Charles City is fi nishing its fi rst year with students from seven area high schools including Charles City able to get a head start on their careers by taking courses in areas identi fi ed by the state as in high demand in this area – information technology, health care, construction trades and advanced manufacturing.
NIACC Career Center nears its first year serving students
By Travis Fischer tk fi scher@charlescitypress.com As spring approaches, the new NIACC Career Center is nearly through its fi rst year in service to area high school students and the Charles City community. An endeavor years in the making, the NIACC building near downtown underwent a major renovation last year to expand the building into a brand new career academy. Serving seven school districts in the area – Charles City, Clarksville, Nashua-Plain- fi eld, North Butler, Osage, Riceville, and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock – the building is equipped to offer high school students dual-credit courses and jumpstart their ca- reer educations. Programs available to students can get them started in careers in information tech- nology, health care, construction trades, and advanced manufacturing as the building has been renovated with specialized rooms and equipment, from industrial-grade workshops to nursing classrooms with patient beds and everything one would fi nd in a hospital. “It gives them a head start in that patient experience,” said Career Center Director and instructor Cindy Holland. After working through the winter on the building renovations, the Career Center of fi - cially opened in May, giving staff plenty of time to move back in and get settled before the fall semester. So far the programs have been well re- ceived and well utilized as students across the seven districts take advantage of the ca- reer programs available. And while seats for these programs are generally reserved for the participating school districts, non-traditional students can potentially get in if there is space. RECRUITMENT IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY , and NIACC has several upcoming programs designed to encourage potential students to think about their careers. Several trade camps are in the works for high school students and in July the career
Press fi le photo by Bob Steenson Craig Johnson, leader of the advanced manufacturing program at the NIACC Career Center in Charles City, explains the pro- gram to visitors at a Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce event.
center will hold a “Mind Mania” program for middle school-aged kids to get them started on thinking what they want to be when they grow up. “We’re always looking to make sure we’re serving what the schools need,” said Community Education Coordinator Wendi Coen-Ward. The career center doesn’t just offer pro- gramming for students looking to develop career skills. The afternoons and evenings
feature a wide range of learning experiences that the community can take advantage of. Babysitting classes, CPR training, yoga lessons, and even cooking courses are avail- able to anybody who wants to expand their knowledge. Coen-Ward said she welcomes people to come in and visit to see what the new build- ing has to offer. “We continuously have people come in,” said Coen-Ward. “Anybody is welcome to
come in the afternoon.” Programming isn’t limited to the building either. NIACC is also offering a number of fi eld trips, giving members of the communi- ty an opportunity to visit various sights and attractions around the Midwest. “We have so many lined up it’s scary,” said Coen-Ward. This year’s docket of bus trips includes NIACC , turn to page B2
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