Students who wonder what path to take after high school were able to learn some options Wednesday, when Barton Community College held “All About Careers.”
Coordinator of Community Education Karly Little said this was the first in a series of events to showcase the college’s workforce training programs. This event highlighted Barton’s Natural Gas, Computer Aided Drafting, Automotive, Agriculture, Early Childhood and Manufacturing Skills programs. Students heard from the coordinators of each program. There were also tours of the campus, showing the facilities for each program, as well as the new student housing building, the Student Union and the Kirkman Building.
“This is a brand new event, and it’s a part of a series,” Little said. “We are hoping to feature each area of Workforce Training and Community Education in an event of this nature.” Wednesday’s event had about 50 attendees, including career classes at area high schools, individuals interested in the industries, and academic advisors and high school counselors.
Mary Foley, executive director of Workforce Training & Economic Development, welcomed students as they gathered in the Case New Holland Lab. “We have industry professionals here that will answer any questions,” she said.
A common theme among the presenters was the forecast for job openings in the future in any given field. People are retiring from fields, new careers are being created and existing jobs are becoming more complex and require more education. BCC offers certificate programs that can be finished in a few weeks, or more in-depth programs, including programs that lead to a associate degree or a bachlor’s degree.
Dr. Victor Martin, coordinator of Barton’s Agriculture program, said 40 million acres in Kansas are devoted to agriculture, yet most Kansans don’t realize the variety of career options in food production.
“One of the fastest growing segments and one of the highest paying for people your age is agriculture,” Martin said.
The program coordinators also stressed the benefit of Kansas Senate Bill 155, which pays the tuition for career courses taken by high school students. Martin said SB 155 also provides students with an opportunity to take introductory classes in different fields to see if they are interested in learning more. “You need to figure out what interests you,” he said.
Tina Grillot, coordinator of the Industrial Technology programs, said the college also teaches “employability skills,” including how to write a resume and what to wear to a job interview