What’s recently happened?
The Hammond Area Career Center (ACC) has been busy gearing up for the end of the year. Students moving on to the national competition for SkillsUSA have been nothing short of busy fundraising in order to make the fees more accessible for those going. Students have been selling popcorn, photo sessions, and reaching out to their communities to help. These fundraisers have already helped alleviate the fees associated with Nationals, but they are still working hard to raise more money.
The ACC had their spring advisory meeting this month where industry partners, parents, and students came together to make a plan for the following year.
Instructors talked about the successes in their classes and made plans for what is yet to come.
Students were able to provide information about their internships and the job-ready skills they have learned since the last meeting. Parents had the opportunity to sit in on this meeting and learn about the preparation and planning that goes into their child's program. Industry partners provide feedback on what students are learning and give suggestions to instructors as to what is wanted and needed at the industry level.
What’s coming up?
As the ACC prepares for the last weeks of school, students are making plans for their lives after high school. Within some programs, students are certified and ready to hit the industry at full speed. For some classes, students have gotten a headstart on their courses and have completed as much as an associate’s degree in college before they have even gotten their high school diploma.
With the excitement of finalizing their school year, students are looking forward to the movie fundraiser being held at the end of May. Students will pay $5 and will be granted admission to a movie being played in the auditorium. This fundraiser is new to the ACC, and all profit will be going back to the students who are fundraising for Nationals. This fundraiser will be student run with a small concession stand to additionally help students raise money for this costly trip.
The excitement carries over as students wait for the end of the year ceremony to be held for the classes. At this ceremony, a selected student from each class will be named student of the year and the NTHS students will receive their graduation cord to be worn at their home high school ceremony.
Staff spotlight:
Thomas Davis is the welding instructor at the ACC. Davis has been teaching this program since 2018. Prior to teaching, Davis was a pipefitter for 31 years. In addition to this, Davis spent five years as an instructor at a trade school in Illinois.
Davis enjoys being the welding instructor and looks forward to seeing the improvement from the first day students enter this class to the day they leave with their certification.
“In this class, students learn discipline and teamwork,” Davis said. “They learn to be confident with their work and themselves.”
In this class Davis sees the students stick with the program for both the first and second year. This allows for Davis to build on skills they learned the year prior as well as get students into internships for the second year program.
“I see growth in my students,” Davis said, “There is growth in everything we are trying to achieve, and they work safely as a team.”
Davis looks forward to ensuring the students have the skills they need to succeed in their welding career.
“Leaving this class, I want to make sure they are field ready,” Davis said.
Student spotlight:
Niko Norcutt is a senior at Highland High School and is in his second year in the welding program. Norcutt will be testing for his welding certification by the end of May. Norcutt works part time at a sandwich shop and in his free time enjoys hanging out with his friends.
Norcutt joined the welding class because it piqued his interest before he had even stepped foot into the classroom.
“I like being able to work with metal,” Norcutt said, “I liked what this class had to offer in terms of money when I finished my certification.”
Norcutt enjoys the work ethic the class collectively has. As a class, he says they are always willing to help each other and have projects lined up to keep themselves busy. Students like Norcutt have been practicing certain techniques that are expected to be seen on the certification test.
“Very rarely is there someone not doing anything,” Norcutt said, “Everyone is always in a good mood and busy working.”
After this class, Norcutt intends to join the job force. With his welding certification, he plans to apply to a divers institute to further his education and become an underwater welder.