Career and Technology Center provides insight into future
Published 7:00 am Saturday, January 13, 2018
On the right, Madison Bouchoux listens to sports medicine instructor Cory Griffith while he teaches the class about the body's muscle system. Photo by Victor Tun
Ryland Price learns how to use the computer software used in the architecture/drafting class that is used to design house floor plans. Photo by Victor Tun
Health sciences student Patrivia Causey gives a presentation to her classmates about the current material they are learning. Photo by Victor Tun
Engineering instructor Todd Giglio shows a prosthetic hand that was made by students in the engineering program using a 3-D printer. Photo by Victor Tun
From left, Bailey Konkle and Rianyah Bender enjoy a cupcake and a drink served by Athina Lawrence, center, Friday morning. Lawrence is a student in the Early Childhood Education Program offered at the Picayune Career and Technology Center. Photo by Victor Tun
From left, Justin Dickerson and Isaac Delancey learn how to put all the components of a side passenger door back into place. Photo by Victor Tun
On the right, Anna Turnage is the instructor of the marketing program at the Picayune Career and Technology Center and teaches her student about visual merchandising. Photo by Victor Tun
Angela Hawthorne is the instructor of the accounting program at the Picayune Career and Technology Center. Photo by Victor Tun
The Picayune Career and Technology Center offers high school students an opportunity to learn about a career they might find interesting and possibly make a career of in the future. Students who attend courses at the Career and Technology Center are able to earn a two-year certificate in a potential career-path, such as architectural design and drafting, engineering, sports medicine, accounting, automotive services, early childhood, marketing and health sciences.
Joaunn Lee, Director of the Picayune Career and Technology Center, said any student who completes a two-year program and has a 90 or better grade point average will be awarded with a full scholarship to Pearl River Community College for any program the college offers. A half scholarship is awarded to any student who has a GPA between 80 and 89.
Students will soon complete choice cards at the end of January where they will indicate their chosen electives for the next school year.
“We ask that parents be aware of what our center has to offer and talk with their child about career goals and how our programs can help with these goals,” Lee said.
Angela Hawthorne, instructor of the accounting program, teaches students the basic concepts of the career field and gives the students an overview of what they might expect to be taught if they enroll in a college course.
Logan Dorn, a Picayune Memorial High School student, said the accounting class helped him develop an interest in the field and he now hopes to be an accountant in the future. Jahkee Harr also took the course and said he plans to become a finance officer.
Hayley Wells is the health sciences instructor at the center. She said students in the first-year course learn basic body functions, body systems and infection control while second-year students get an opportunity to be more hands-on. Second year students in the program learn how to take a person’s blood pressure and also shadow staff at hospitals, dental offices, pediatric offices and veterinary offices.
Anna Turnage is in charge of the center’s accounting program. She said students in her class learn about every day life-skills such as how to write a resume, how to balance a checkbook and how to look for a job. Students in her program also man the school store where they learn skills such as customer service, counting money by hand, and communication.
Leo Raverty is the automotive program instructor and his goal is to teach students how everything in a vehicle works. Students in the program learn skills such as changing brakes, rebuilding an engine and how the electrical system in a car is set up.
Meanwhile, students in Jason Childs’ architecture and drafting class learn about drafting house plans on a board and on a computer.
Childs said students in his second-year class complete between seven and eight house plans.
Students interested in a healthcare career may decide to take the sports medicine program taught by Chris Griffith. The class teaches students how to treat sports injuries, prevent injuries, tape and ice an injury and most importantly how to help athletes return to the playing field as soon as possible.
Giglio teaches an engineering class where students learn how to use a 3-D printer, laser engraver and about robotics. Student Kolby Bach said what he learned in Giglio’s classroom helped him decide to either become a computer or software engineer later in life.
Last but not least, Sandra Spanks is the early childhood education instructor and the course provides hands-on experience to students interested in the early childhood education field.
At the Career and Technology Center, students are also able to receive academic support from Shelley Douglas, who is in charge of student support services. Douglas said her goal is to provide students with the help they need in order to be successful later on in life.
“The focus of our Career and Technology Center is to offer Picayune Memorial High School students the opportunity to learn program career related objectives and skills to help prepare them for the transition to either college or the workforce,” Lee said.
