The Calhoun County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) has multiple programs to offer – automotive, construction, metal fabrication, engineering, health science, digital media, business, and the teachers academy.
“We do a good job providing kids with a variety of experiences to help them with what they want to do and what career track they pursue,” said Kyle Clark, director of the CCCTC.
Laura Brower
A new program was introduced this year at CCCTC involving career and college exploration.
Former Bruce High School counselor Laura Brower is leading the new program.
“I love working with students, especially with career and college exploration,” Brower said. “I really enjoy helping students gain real world experience and helping them have a set plan for their future.”
The program is available for juniors and seniors who have either completed or are on their second year of a CCCTC class. When the program first began, Brower held job workshops for students, going over the basic job skills of the real world. Brower then positioned students in working fields based on their career interest. She said 39 students are in the program and have been placed at 20 different worksites.
Tori Campbell, a senior at BHS, is interested in nursing. As a result of being a part of Brower’s program, Campbell is able to work part time at Dr. Willie Wells’ Medical Clinic in Bruce where she works as a nurse’s assistant. Campbell does a variety of different things such as pulling charts, answering phone calls, and labeling blood work.
Tori Campbell
“I have had a lot of valuable experience working at the job I have now,” Campbell said.
“I learn and perform a variety of different things, all of which I enjoy doing. I love the environment I work in and all the people that are there.”
Brower said the willingness of Calhoun County businesses to engage with these students is critical to the program.
“I love working with the industries of Calhoun County. They have been wonderful with accepting the students as they gain the skills needed to prepare for their future and to determine if their current career interest is what they want to pursue. I’m so pleased that these businesses are so accepting of our students,” Brower said. “I thoroughly loved being counselor at Bruce High School, but when this opportunity became available for me to work countywide focusing on college careers, I knew this was the perfect fit for me. I just want to do my part to help prepare students for the future.”
Editor’s Note: Sara Aden Long, who wrote this story, is a student at Bruce High School and participant in the career pathway program at the CCCTC. She is exploring a career in journalism and is working with The Journal.