KINGMAN — The October nationally recognized Manufacturing Day has been acknowledged by the Kingman Unified School District (KUSD) with a field trip to the recently dedicated Mohave College Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (AMTC). KUSD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator, Lindsay Wolsey, her staff, along with eleven industry partners, and Mohave College put together this view into vocational careers.
The AMTC tour for area high school students was designed to give district students an opportunity to find out about vocational training. The training is not only available to current high school students but post high school and community students as well.
Wolsey explained, “We have been inviting students to come to the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center to learn about all the different career pathways that are available in the area of manufacturing.”
Over the past several years, vocational or “class room to jobs” training has begun to re-appear in public education.
“Definitely, there’s an emphasis on Career and Technical Education (CTE), right now,” continued Wolsey. “Whatever your interests or your passion is, our goal is to try to help students match their strengths and their interests to a career pathway that they desire, and CTE can help with that.”
KUSD Career and Technical Education Coordinator Lindsay Wolsey, left, and Tiffany Gaffney, Early College Director for Mohave College, right, welcome nearly 200 area high school students to a tour of the newly dedicated Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at the Kingman Airport Industrial Park.
Former MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein was a driving force in the institution’s elevation to Mohave College, and the construction of this recently completed building. Jason Gee is the Dean of Career and Tech Education at the college. His has been on a seven year journey to get to this point. He talks about the input from local business and industry that led to all this.
“So as we’ve been hearing from these demands, requests, whatever you want to call them from area industries, the state has really increased funding for CTE statewide. State support is just awesome.”
The training center encompasses a wide range of specializes that do not require a four year college education. Some of the nation’s leading companies, in recent years, have reviewed job descriptions to eliminate requirements of a bachelor’s degree when someone with a comprehensive vocational education will get the job done.
Lee Williams High School student, Raven McCarghy, has her sights set on an academic, post high school path, to become a teacher. She commented that from what she’s seen on the AMTC trip, she would highly endorse a tour of this facility and the vocation opportunities it represents.
“I am really fascinated with all of this stuff that they have going on here. I want to consider and give Mohave College a try. I would definitely encourage students to take this tour, considering that you can learn a lot about what’s offered here.”
Some 200 area high school students were guided through the brand-new Mohave College Advanced Manufacturing Training Center. A day before, middle students also were escorted on the tour. Not to rank the possible careers at any intellectual level as technology in each is daunting but paths offered range from truck driving to advanced robotics.
For details, contact Mohave College at 866-664-2832 or the Career & Technical Councilor at any Mohave County high school.
