NRTC marks Career and Technology Education Month

Incorporating this year's national theme of "Invest in Your Future," the marketing students at Nevada Regional Technical Center designed, and with the help of students in other academic disciplines, created the display in the main entryway of the NRTC Ashland Campus to celebrate February as National Career and Technical Education Month. --Rusty Murry/Herald-Tribune

The Nevada Regional Technical Center, with its main campus on Ashland and a satellite facility in the Bowman Building at 2015 N. West Street, is one of 58 career and technical centers throughout the state celebrating February as National Career and Technology Education Month.

The many educational opportunities at NRTC were made possible when an $800,000 bond issue was passed by the Nevada R-5 voters in 1971. Two years later, the new facility was opened to classes and in 1995 the Bowman building was purchased and incorporated into the system.

The staff at NRTC has held open houses in the past and done other things in recognition of the national celebration, and they will do some things within the school with the students this year, but their main focus during this month is using the celebration as a recruiting tool. They will use the occasion to visit their partnering schools and invite interested students to tour the facilities and learn about what programs are offered.

Students from the partnering schools from Bronaugh, Butler, El Dorado Springs, Hume, Miami, Northeast Vernon County and Rich Hill make up about 14 percent of the students participating in the programs at NRTC, but unlike R-5 students, they must pay tuition to attend the courses. The 50 or so adults attending classes, mostly in the Bowman Building, also must pay for their courses, but R-5 students can participate in all programs free of charge.

There are a variety of options available for those willing to attend NRTC. The campus is technologically rich and students can study in a number of technology related fields. Courses like Graphic Design, Computer Networking Technology and Digital Communication are just a few of the high tech courses offered. There are a number of practical programs, too. Automotive Technology, Construction Technology and Culinary Arts and Hospitality Services courses give students a chance to work with their hands and be creative. The broad range of classes offered is designed to help students find "a specialty area," according to counselor Tammy Hendren.

One way the school does this is by "trying to create an environment which is very comparable to what they'll find when they get to their real job, their real career," said Hendren. The school also offers courses in Marketing, Health Sciences and Alternative Choices in Education, but the Agricultural Education course draws almost 40 percent of the students. The "agriculture is huge, very successful," said Hendren, and students can particiapte in that program during all four years of high school.

Classes are offered in different time blocks and to freshmen through senior level students. Most of the programs require students to make a 2-year commitment. Hendren added that it sometimes takes careful planning to work out a student's core class schedule and find time for the 2 or 3 hour block classes at NRTC.

Once the kinks are worked out of the schedule and students complete the course of study, their efforts are rewarded in many ways. An ambitious, hard working student can feasibly articulate more than 20 hours of college credit to any of several 2 year colleges that work with NRTC, according to Hendren. Many graduates do go on to higher learning. The student course work, leadership opportunities, student organizations, awards, scholarships and other opportunities available at the school prepare students for the future.

Students wanting to further their education can find assistance in that area too. Several larger schools offer courses at the Bowman Building and there are more than 300 online classes open to adult students. The NRTC facility, staff and curriculum is an important part of the educational system in Vernon County, and anyone interested is encouraged to come by the main office at 900 West Ashland, call (417) 448-2090, or visit the Bowman Building at 2015 N. West Street or call (417) 448-2016 or go online and visit the Web site www.nevada.k12.mo.us/NRTC/index.htm to find out more about the Nevada Regional Technical Center.