ValpoNEXT Coordinator Kathy Sipple speaks with Jon Groth at the Porter County Career Center about its programs and successes. This organization is available to every junior and senior high school student in Porter County. It offers a myriad of programs intended to give students a taste of many job fields as well as introduce essential training techniques. The PCCTC is focused on industries and employment, and it gives students a way to demonstrate learned skills to potential employers. With a focus on real-world career readiness, the PCCTC knows that not every student is destined for a four-year university and offers a different approach to entering the workforce. Their website explains the 35+ programs available, as well as the different initiatives underway. Groth explains several ways the Career Center has gone greener in the past decade, and discusses a recent project to save the historic Valparaiso Grand Trunk Railroad Depot.
Transcript Notes
- The ValpoNEXT initiative 2D is focused on student readiness.
The Porter County Career Center is available to every student in every Porter County high school. It offers 35 different programs, such as automotive technician work, health occupations pre-nursing, welding, machine trades, and more.
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- This program is tied to industry and employment.
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- There is a competency based certificate program that lists the skills they can perform.
- There are awards for outstanding students, excellent students, work ethic, and honors programs.
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- This program is tied to industry and employment.
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- Students learn how to write resumes, interview skills practice, and a LinkedIn profile.
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- The Porter County Career Center website has several videos that explain how this program helps prepare its students for the workforce.
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- The Career Center allows students to try out their potential field of work before leaving high school and either going to college, undergoing more training, or entering the workforce.
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- They are also connected and prepared to get further training in order to be prepared for specific jobs.
- Students can avoid college debt and obtain solid employment opportunities through the Porter County Career Center.
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- The Career Center allows students to try out their potential field of work before leaving high school and either going to college, undergoing more training, or entering the workforce.
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- After the education budget was cut, the program needed to find ways to save money. They began turning off lights and devices when not in use.
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- Now, they use LED lights instead of fluorescent which saved $10/year/fixture (as calculated by the students).
- Lights now have motion detectors so that they are only on when people are present to use them.
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- After the education budget was cut, the program needed to find ways to save money. They began turning off lights and devices when not in use.
- Preserved the Valparaiso Grand Trunk Railroad Depot, built in 1912.
- Moved the historic building to the Porter County Career Center campus in order to preserve it for future generations.
Getting Involved!
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- ValpoNEXT Facebook
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- ValpoNEXT Vision Plan