Career Center introducing new program for 2017-2018 school year
Bart Winegar (far right) discusses the Coshocton County Career Center’s new Networking Information Computer Systems program with John, Becky and David Mason at the school’s parent information night. David, a sophomore at Ridgewood High School, is considering finishing out his high school career at the Career Center. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – David Mason and his parents were the first to hear about a new opportunity for students at the Coshocton County Career Center’s SPIN event.
The Masons first stop at the Student Parent Information Night (SPIN) held Dec. 6 was to learn more about the Networking Information Computer Systems (NICS) program that will start with the 2017-2018 school year.
“I like electronics and computers and seeing what’s inside them,” David said. “I also like that there are different opportunities here at the career center.”
David, the son of Becky and John Mason, is a sophomore at Ridgewood High School. All sophomores in the county visited the Career Center the week before the SPIN event and picked three programs to learn more about. SPIN gave them the opportunity to bring their parents to the Career Center so they too could learn about the opportunities available to their children at the school for their junior and senior years.
“All 12 labs are open and we have our four academic divisions represented here tonight so the parents can ask questions,” said Principal Eddie Dovenbarger. “Kids here can really design their own schedules. We have some who spend a half day here and a half day at their (home) high school. They can even be in three buildings in one day and spend time at their high school, with us and on a college campus. We also work with online academies, homeschoolers and students from the Christian School.”
Becky is excited her son is considering going to the Career Center.
“I went to a vocational school when I was in high school and loved it,” she said. “I feel you are more able to get help if you are struggling. There’s also more one on one and more hands on. It’s more like a family.”
The Masons learned about the NICS program from Bart Winegar. He is the director of technology for the school and will be the senior advisor for the NICS program. Those who enroll in it will learn a variety of skills including: Computer networking (wired and wireless), computer systems – building, troubleshooting, repairing, the fundamentals of programs, experience a little bit of working on gaming programs, and network security.
“Some studies show this is the fastest growing field worldwide,” Winegar said. “They say right now there are two million jobs worldwide left unfilled.”
Students who complete the NICS program will have a solid foundation to go on to college and major in areas such as computer science or networking. They also can earn three certificates that Winegar said are highly valued by employers.
“If they get those when they walk out of here they will not be long unemployed,” Winegar said. “This is a great opportunity and the skills are very portable. The same fundamentals are used across most industries and it’s not a field that is geographically isolated.”
Some of the career fields out there include: IT Technician, IT Administrator, Field Service Technician, Help Desk Technician, Network Support Technician, and Network Installer.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for students and one more way we can help prepare them to be successful,” said Superintendent Rick Raach. “Everything is about technology now and it’s never going to go away.”
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