Tri-Rivers is celebrating Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month. This year’s theme is Learning Today, Earning Tomorrow, which highlights the critical need for career and technical education (CTE) programs to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be competitive in today’s global economy.

“By partnering with the business community, CTE programs are investing in students’ lives with the latest technology and skills that will prepare them to become successful employees as well as future leaders, ”  said Larry Hickman, executive director for Tri-Rivers.

Career Technical Education is a major part of the solution to a myriad of national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs.
Some interesting statistics about CTE include:

• There are 14.4 million secondary and postsecondary career and technical education students in the United States. Career and technical education is offered in middle school, high schools, two-year community and technical colleges and other postsecondary schools.

• Tri-Rivers offers a wide range of career training including: Transitions—a sophomore exploration program; programs for juniors & seniors including Digital Media & Entertainment, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Health Technologies, Healthcare Professions, Public Safety Services, Early Childhood Education, Floral Design, Landscaping/Garden Center, Construction Technologies, Computer Networking Electronics Technologies (CNET), Precision Machining Technology, Welding, At & Industrial Power Technology, Automotive Technology, Collision Repair Technology and two programs for seniors—Teaching Professions Academy and Engineering Technology. Two new programs were also recently added: Successful Training to Employment Possibilities (STEPS) and Pathways to Employment.

• High School students may also continue their training at Tri-Rivers Center For Adult Education. The Adult Center offers: computer training; Healthcare, including PN and LPN to RN programs; Public Safety Services, including paramedic, fire and EMT; Industrial Maintenance, including HVAC, Welding, Electrical; and Workforce Development programs.

•  Career and technical education prepares both youth and adults for a wide range of careers that may require varying levels of  education—from high school to postsecondary certificates to two- and four-year college degrees.

• Almost all high school students take at least one CTE course, and one in four students take three or more courses in a single program area. One-third of college students are involved in CTE programs, and as many as 40 million adults engage in short-term postsecondary occupational training.

•  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 20 fastest growing occupations, 10 require an associate’s degree or less. Furthermore, of the 20 occupations with the largest numbers of new jobs projected for 2018, 13 require on-the-job training (career tech) or an associate’s degree.

•  Career Tech students are significantly more likely than their non-CTE counterparts to report that they developed problem-solving, project completion, research, math, college application, work-related, communication, time management, and critical thinking skills during high school.

As part of our celebration, Tri-Rivers will be on with WMRN’s Jeff Ruth Monday-Friday,  Feb. 14-18, starting at 6:20am.  Join Us!!

Students, Alumni, Business Partners, Friends of Tri-Rivers…Help us reach our goal of 1,000 fans on Facebook. Just click “Like Us” at www.facebook.com/tririverscareercenter….Join the Conversation!!!