A partnership between the Career and Technical Education Center and Vincennes University is creating opportunities for future welders in the area.
Located in downtown Crawfordsville, the center oversees vocational programs available to students in both Montgomery and Boone counties.
Offering career-specific programs such as radio and television, nursing and automotive technology, the center now has the resources of Vincennes University at its side for a budding welding program at North Montgomery.
“(The center) is working with North Montgomery to serve as the host site and is responsible for providing the facility for the program, advertising and registering students, providing administrative, teaching and support personnel and providing textbooks for students,” North Montgomery Superintendent Dr. Colleen Moran said.
In return, North Montgomery will receive the equipment necessary to host the industrial course, jump starting the process.
The university will retain ownership of the equipment, however, the center may purchase tools and other necessities for the program, including any other donations made on its behalf.
“We currently have 19 students enrolled for school year 2020-21,” Moran said. “(We’re) excited to welcome the inaugural cohort of students this fall.”
North Montgomery graduate Jeff Harp has been hired as instructor of the course. With the help of fellow Charger graduate Jarrod Zachary, each of whom participated in high school welding programs at Fountain Central, the pair is set to educate future welders in the craft.
“We are excited to have Harp join the West Central team as the instructor,” Moran said. “He and board member Zachary, Ron Hoke (of Vincennes) and Sara Nicodemus (CTE coordinator) have been instrumental in getting this program started.”
Vincennes University has partnered with CTE in the past, providing equipment to its radio and television program at Western Boone High School.
The university, along with Ivy Tech Community College, also accepts dual credits from a number of CTE programs, including law enforcement and emergency medical programs offered at Southmont.
For more information about the program and how to enroll, contact the CTE Center at 765-362-2340 or visit www.westcentralcte.org.
