BHS seniors get hands-on look at TSTC’s technical programs
On Friday several Breckenridge High School seniors got a firsthand look at some of the technical programs offered at Texas State Technical College in Breckenridge. They were invited to participate in the Careers in Technical Education program, which included tours of the school’s four programs: Vocational Nursing, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Welding Technology and Occupational Safety Compliance Technology.
BHS senior Justin Wood welds pieces of metal together at TSTC during a tour of the facilities on Friday. Wood plans to attend TSTC and study welding after he graduates. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)
During the tour, students were given a hands-on chance to try out some of the equipment that is used in the school’s programs, such as welding pieces of metal together in the welding shop or touching the different types of artificial skin that is used in the nursing program to train nurses.
During a reception following the tour, refreshments were served and more than $600 in door prizes and a $1,000 scholarship were given away to the students.
The winner of the $1,000 scholarship was Justin Wood, who said he plans to study welding at TSTC after he graduates from BHS. During his tour of the welding lab, Wood and other students welded pieces of metal together under the direction of TSTC Welding Instructor Stephen Hope.
Debbie Karl, executive director of the Breckenridge TSTC campus, said that after going on the tour several students told them they had changed their mind about their careers and decided that enrolling in one of the TSTC programs such as Vocational Nursing or Chemical Dependency Counseling was something they were interested in doing. Karl said this is the first time they’ve ever held the program but they hope to make it an annual event.
Story by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan
TSTC welding instructor Stephen Hope discusses the TSTC Welding Technology program with Breckenridge High School seniors Carizma Maynard, Hayley Nored and Justin Wood during a tour of the school’s facilities. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline top photo: TSTC nursing instructor Jenny Wingate demonstrates artificial human skin, which is used to train nursing students at TSTC, to a group of BHS seniors who were invited to tour the campus on Friday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
