The Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center (SCCTC) is gearing up for a new year, and we are eager to continue to help students there achieve trades certifications that will lead them to family-sustaining jobs in an otherwise unpredictable job market.
Instructors and administrators at SCCTC conducted a modified open house event for incoming students on July 15 that demonstrated their dedication to providing a safe learning environment amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While the precise balance between lab work and virtual learning may not be determined until the last minute, SCCTC executive director Dr. Alice Davis said, “We are still going to do live work to the best of our ability. We’re keeping the hands-on component, but we are stretching it out.”
The layout of the school allows for separation of the students by program, in that each department’s shops are self-contained with their own restroom and locker facilities. Additionally, work stations will be spread out as much as possible.
While administration works to ensure the healthiness of the learning environment, teachers are studying the job market in order to groom this year’s students for the jobs that will most likely be available to them when they graduate in three years.
“The gas industry and quarries are two of the biggest employers of welders in the area,” Dean of Students Will Squire cited. “Heavy equipment repair is huge – excavators, bulldozers, backhoes – they require a lot of maintenance.”
We strive to make sure that students have the supplies and technologies they need to learn in-demand skills and help them transition into today’s workforce. While Welding, Automotive Technology, CDL Training, and Vehicle Maintenance and Repair may seem the obvious targets of Cabot’s endeavors with SCCTC, students in the Building Property Maintenance and other programs are also in demand within the gas industry and among its supporting companies.
“Cabot’s continued support has given many students the opportunity to come to the Career Center without any financial burdens, covering the costs of tools, safety boots, and dual enrollment credits, to name a few,” Davis remarked. Cabot is a pivotal member of several advisory boards and committees, she added. “Their tremendous input and support has helped SCCTC start the new CDL program in June.”
Additionally, through the use of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, Cabot provides scholarships to students in-need to purchase uniforms and other items needed to participate in these programs. Cabot is proud to provide financial support for all SCCTC programs, including Culinary Arts. Catering services for several Cabot functions have been provided by Culinary Arts students over the years.
