Laser/Photonics Students Visit Indian Hills Laser/Electro-Optics Program

Laser/Photonics Technology students made an overnight campus visit to Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) in Ottumwa, IA.  IHCC is one of the nation’s premier comprehensive two-year colleges known for excellence in cutting-edge advanced applied science and technology degree programs with impressive graduate placement rates and starting salaries.  The college is nationally recognized in the area of Laser/Electro-Optics training.

CACC partners with IHCC through the articulation process.  This partnership provides our students a jump-start into the IHCC Laser/Electro-Optics degree program by awarding 12 semester hours of college credit for the competencies they master while studying Laser/Photonics Technology at CACC.

While on campus, Career Center students visited the IHCC Advanced Technology Center and participated with IHCC Laser/Electro-Optics students in lab and real-world problem-solving activities.

CACC Laser Tech and Photonics students at IHCC

Tom Rubel, IHCC Executive Dean of Regional Economic Advancement, explains why graduates of

     advanced technology degree programs such as Laser/Electro-Optics are in such high demand and  the role

 IHCC plays in meeting those demands nationally.

Marlos Hickam, a 2011 Career Center and Hickman High School graduate now
 completing the final semester of the IHCC Laser/Electro-Optics program,
demonstrates the SPI 50-watt fiber laser with femto-second pulsing,
used in manufacturing applications

Daniel Henderson and Jevon Bailey, both 2011 Career Center and Hickman High School graduates
now in the final semester of the IHCC Laser/Electro-Optics program, fired up a Spectra-Physics Nd:YAG laser,
tested the invisible beam and explained how the laser pumps other lasers for use in educational applications
and in research.

Career Center students test the power of the Xanar CO2 laser used in medical applications. 

Project Lead the Way in Columbia Public Schools

Columbia Public Schools is completing its first year as a registered Project Lead the Way (PLTW) school district, teaching STEM-science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum. Read the full article in the Columbia Missourian on the impact it has made.

View the STEM presentation from the Columbia School Board meeting.

Civil Engineering Students Tour Bagnell Dam

Bagnell Dam

After studying about dams in Civil Engineering class, 45 of Brad Mann's students visited Bagnell Dam. Hosted by Ameren UE, the students toured the dam from the bottom, below lake level, all the way to the top, viewing the powerhouse and all the inner workings of a dam. In addition to a presentation on the history and construction of the dam, the students learned about how electricity is created from the force of moving water and the environmental impact involved with building a dam.

Civil Engineering students at Bagnell Dam

Eight Columbia FFA teams competed at the State Level on April 18 and 19 in Columbia, Missouri. The results are as follows:

Poultry Evaluation   1st Place
(advised by Kevin Duncan)

• Kassie Rankin (HHS)
• Lainyn Kerley (RBHS)-top individual score
• Michelle Ross (RBHS)
• Rachel Kirchhofer (RBHS)

Ag Mechanics  2nd Place
(advised by Larry Henneke)

• Alan Perry  (HHS)
• Austin Wallace (HHS)
• Joe Ege  (HHS)
• Eva Quattrocchi (RBHS)

Soils Team  3rd Place
(advised by Larry Henneke)

• Ashley Cleveland (HHS)
• Shelby Wilson (RBHS)
• Daniel Martz (HHS)
• Jaime Vaughn (RBHS)

Forestry  4th Place
(advised by Larry Henneke)

• Grant Gould (RBHS)
• Kira Kirk (RBHS)
• Sarah Darr (HHS)
• Kelly Wilsdorf  (HHS)

Meats   4th Place
(advised by Kevin Duncan)

• Maddie Grant (RBHS)
• Kaitlyn Epperson (RBHS)
• Loyal Carpenter (HHS)
• Bailey Peters (HHS)

Horses  6th Place
(advised by Kevin Duncan)

• Hannah Corbin (HHS)
• Austin DeHaven (RBHS)
• Paige Martin (RBHS)
• Holly Wegner (HHS)

Nursery   6th Place

(advised by Larry Henneke)

• Drew Atkins (HHS)
• Quinn Pestle (RBHS)
• Jordan Craig (RBHS)
• Adele Fritz (HHS)

Dairy Cattle  14th Place
(advised by Chuck Miller)

• Jessica Brown  (HHS)
• Taylor Forsythe (HHS)
• Ashlynn Girard  (HHS)
• Alyssa Strawn (HHS)

Natural Resources*    1st Place

• Sarah Darr
• Lainyn Kerley
• Kira Kirk
• Grant Gould
• Jordan Craig

Congratulations to the Poultry Evaluation and Natural Resources teams who placed first and will advance to National Competition in Louisville, Kentucky in October.

*The Natural Resources team competed last fall and was recognized at the state convention

SkillsUSA State Results

SkillsUSA advisors Brad Mann, Bob Allee, Bobby Horn, Laura Estabrooks, Chef Harlan, Chef Risner and Chef Rayl are proud to announce the placings of the 24 individuals who participated in SkillsUSA state competition from Columbia Area Career Center in the following events:

3-D Visualization & Animation 

Halim Mavrakis (RBHS) and Ricky Shinkle (RBHS)   1st place

Brandon Banton (RBHS) and Kaszmerre Messbarger (RBHS)   5th place

Architectural Drafting

Samantha Ding (RBHS)    7th place

Commercial Baking 

Heather Pitt (HHS)     1st place

Mallory Barnes (RBHS)      2nd place

Community Service

Greg Kelly (RBHS), Jeff King (RBHS) and Dhruv Patel (RBHS)    5th place

Computer Maintenance Technology

Jacob Rice (Hallsville HS)  7th place

CPS: Science, Technology & Math

Bre Dowling (RBHS) , Marie Fulcher (RBHS)  and Shelby Richardson (RBHS)   1st place

Culinary Arts

Hailey King (RBHS)    1st place

Cormac Sullivan (RBHS)     5th place

Engineering Technology/Design

Kaleb Jacks, Sean Martin and Breta Phillips    2nd place

First Aid/CPR

Riley Johnson (RBHS)    10th place

Jackson Cole (RBHS)     11th place

Internetworking

Nishant Sinha (RBHS)    7th place

Technical Drafting

Luke Kruse (RBHS)      5th place

Jessica Murphey  (RBHS)    7th place  

Those teams and individuals with first place ranking will advance to national competition held in Kansas City, Missouri in June. 

Spring Plant Sale at CACC Greenhouse

Spring is in bloom at Columbia Area Career Center greenhouse.

The annual Spring Plant Sale happens: 

Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 

8:30 AM to 6:00 PM

and

 Saturday, April 27 

 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Check out a full list of items for sale.

Congratulations to Columbia Area Career Center Broadcast Journalism students who competed at the National Student Television Network Convention in Los Angeles, California. Rockbridge Senior Laurel Critchfield took first place in the Laptop Reporter category, and Hickman Senior Marissa Jackman took third place in the Broadcast Writing category. With 2400 students in attendance, both girls faced tough competition from schools across the nation. Click here to see all the competition results.

2013 Summer Youth Camps Announced

Calling all kids ages 10-15, find your favorite reality this summer by participating in Columbia Area Career Center's 2013 Summer Camps and Seminars. If you dream of being a chef, a webmaster, a rocket scientist or a graphic designer, come try it out. Have you ever wanted to build your own home or produce your own film? This is your chance! It doesn't matter what your interest, there is something for you. Check out the course descriptions for more information.

With a highly qualified staff to train and guide you through hands on interactive experiences, you are guaranteed a good time. We look forward to seeing you here this summer!

Enroll Now! Space is limited.

DECA Instructor receives DECA Diamond Award

Congratulations to CACC Marketing instructor, Pete Eichholz,  for receiving the DECA Diamond Award at the Missouri DECA State Career Development Conference at Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri on March 19.  Pete and ten other  chapter advisors were honored by their peers for the outstanding contributions they have made to Missouri DECA and their respective districts. Pete was recognized for serving as an inspirational educator, mentor, and role model to other marketing educators and students.

Five Columbia HOSA student members advance to Nationals

Five student members from Columbia Area Career Center's HOSA chapter  qualified to advance to HOSA Nationals held in Nashville, Tennessee. 

• Alex Komes earned Gold in Biotechnology
• Riley Johnson and Ryan Wood earned Gold in Emergency Medical Technician
• Jenny Zulovich earned Gold in Medical Math
• Yonne Nasimiyu earned Silver in Medical Photography
• Alp Kahvechi earned Silver in Research Persuasive Speaking

15 Marketing students advance to DECA International Career Development Conference

Pete Eichholz and Scott Fuenfhausen, DECA Advisors for Columbia Area Career Center, are proud to announce the results of the DECA State Career Development Conference that was held at the Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake Ozark from March 17 – 19. More than 1,600 students from the 12 State Districts competed in the three day event. Students finishing in the top six spots in individual events and the top five in team events advance to the International Career Development Conference which will be held in Anaheim, CA in April.

The following DECA members qualified for Internationals in Individual Events:

Apparel & Accessories Marketing

2^nd place: Emma Pliska (RB-North Calloway)

Business Services Marketing

6^th place: Jack Schimpf (RB)

Quick Serve Restaurant

6^th place: Matt Frappier (Hickman)

Marketing Management

6^th place: Kalei Wilson (Hickman)

Business Finance Series

2^nd place: Chandler Randol (RB)

Principles of Business Management

4^th place: Caleb Rainey (Hickman)

Sport & Entertainment Marketing

4^th place: Michelle King (RB)

Virtual Business Challenge – Sports

1^st place: Matt Hefner (RB)

Hotel & Lodging Management

2^nd place: Larkin Shull (Hickman)

The following DECA members qualified for Internationals in Team Events:

Business Law & Ethics

5^th place: Connor Lake & Mary Jane O’Connor (Hickman)

Buying & Merchandising

4^th place: Nate Horvit & Chris Hickman (RB)

Financial Analysis State Champions

1^st place: Morgan Widhalm & Aaron Meyers (RB)

Top Finishers who medaled but do not qualify for Internationals: 

Buying & Merchandising

Cathy Chen & Brandi Dye (Hickman)

Automotive Services

Ryan Nauser (RB)

 DECA competitive events consist of two components. Students first take a 100 item comprehensive exam which tests essential marketing knowledge. The second portion involves "role play" where students must develop a solution for a specific marketing related business challenge and then present their proposal to an industry judge.

Eight Columbia FFA teams advance to State Competition

Nine Columbia FFA teams competed in the Northeast District Career Development Events on Wednesday, April 3, in Columbia, Missouri. Eight teams qualified to compete at the state competition in Columbia, Missouri on April 18 &19.

The following teams qualified for state:

Dairy Cattle-2nd place

• Jessica Brown
• Taylor Forsythe
• Ashlynn Girard
• Alyssa Strawn   

Forestry-1st place

• Grant Gould-High individual score
• Kira Kirk
• Sarah Darr
• Kelly Wilsdorf

Horses-1st place

• Hannah Corbin
• Austin DeHaven
• Paige Martin-High individual score
• Holly Wegener

Meats-1st place

• Maddie Grant-High individual score
• Kaitlyn Epperson
• Loyal Carpenter
• Bailey Peters

Nursery-1st place

• Drew Atkins-High individual score
• Quinn Pestle
• Jordan Craig
• Adele Fritz

Poultry Evaluation 1st place

• Kassie Rankin-High individual score
• Lainyn Kerley
• Michelle Ross
• Rachel Kirchhofer

Soils-3rd place

• Ashley Cleveland
• Shelby Wilson
• Daniel Martz
• Jaime Vaughn

Ag Mechanics

• Alan Perry-High individual score
• Austin Wallace
• Joe Ege
• Eva Quattrocchi

The following team competed, but did not qualify for state.

Dairy Foods-11th place

• Emily Adams
• Thomas Fenner
• Rory James
• Grace Robertson