Technical Education today

Columbia Area Career Center offers high school as well as post-secondary coursework, with a mission of preparing students for the work force, through classroom instruction as well as Career Center expectations. Read about the exciting forecast for job potential in technical fields in this article by CACC Director Linda Rawlings and Superintendent Chris Belcher.

Helping students investigate potential career paths is one of the things CACC Counselor, Ellen Buechler loves about her job. Recently, she introduced CACC student Loyal Carpenter to KMIZ Meteorologist, Neville Miller at the ABC 17 station. They watched as Miller forecasted  the upcoming snow storm and then listened as he explained the path to becoming a meteorologist. The visit even included a chance for Loyal to give it a try. Standing in front of the green screen, Carpenter gave his version of the upcoming storm.

Thanks to Neville Miller and ABC KMIZ 17 for inspiring and investing in young people.

Loyal Carpenter tries his hand at weather forecasting

Loyal Carpenter and Neville Miller at KMIZ TV 17

Auto Tech students attend Car Show

One of the perks of being an Auto Tech student are the field trips. Twenty-two students from John Green’s Automotive Technology classes traveled to Bartle Hall in Kansas City to the “World of Wheels” car show for inspiration.  Check out some of the sights.

Floral Design Students featured in the Tribune

Sherie Rodekohr's Floral and Plant Design students stayed busy filling Valentine's Day orders. Read about it in the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Roses in a vase, designed by Floral and Plant design students

Carnations, ready for delivery

Rita Vega arranges a single red rose in a box

Elena Tucker and instructor, Sherie Rodekohr  busy making Valentine Day arrangements

DECA students attend ACTE Legislative Day

Marketing students and DECA members, Connor McCarty and Michelle King, represented Columbia Area Career Center in a visit to the Capitol in Jefferson City for ACTE Legislative Day. Their role was to discuss the importance of Career and Technical Education. While there, they had the opportunity to meet in the House Chamber with State Representative Caleb Jones and witness the signing of a proclamation for Career and Technical Education month in Governor Nixon's office.

Connor McCarty and Michelle King in the House Chamber

Michelle King, Representative Caleb Jones, Connor McCarty and Marketing instructor, Pete Eichholz

                                           

Floral and Plant Design classes offer Valentine Flowers

Surprise that special someone this Valentine's Day with fresh flowers. 
Check out the selection of carnations and roses at CACC's Flower shop .

Click here for brochure.

SkillsUSA participate in service project

Decked out in orange safety vests, SkillsUSA members pitched in and picked up over 20 large bags of  trash on the CACC campus, Thursday, February 7, 2013. Advisors Brad Mann, Bob Allee and Bill Mitchell lent a hand as well. At the conclusion of their service project, they were treated to a barbeque dinner. 

Civil Engineering students mentor Benton STEM students

Brad Mann's Civil Engineering 2 students Quinn Pestle, Morgan Brown, Malik Baskett, Andrew Bair, and Aaron McMurry visited Benton Elementary school to  perform strength tests on bridges built by John Gerhart's 3rd grade students. Benton is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) school, where students are immersed in STEM subjects, making the collaboration with Career Center students a natural fit. The challenge for the Benton students was to build a bridge of  popsicle sticks that was lightweight yet capable of supporting a large amount of weight. Students were free to build structures of their own design and given 200 sticks to construct the structures. The bridges were then strength tested by CACC Civil Engineering students who weighed each bridge and subjected it to stress by means of suspending weights from the bridge.  The tests determined how much each would support before breaking. An Efficiency Factor or ratio of the weight of the bridge to the amount of weight the bridge could hold was then calculated to determine the winner. The winning bridge supported 150 pounds! This project teaches physics and forces such as loads, tension, compression, shear and torsion, in a hands on approach that kids will remember for years to come.

Quinn Pestle and Malik Baskett attach weights to bridge

Weights are evenly distributed 

All bridges are subjected to the same method

Students patiently await their turn

Civil Engineering students Andrew Bair and Aaron McMurry add weight as part of the test

 Morgan Brown gives a thumbs up!