Grandparents routinely fill the parking lot at the end of the day at the Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus (A-Tech) to pick up their grandchildren who are finishing their school day. They’re students who may not have a driver’s license yet, or don’t ride the bus because they are going directly to a job after school.
It’s fitting that the Baby Boomer generation is assisting their grandchildren in acquiring the skills they’ll need for future careers. About 10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day, creating a huge skills gap in the workforce across the country, where companies will need new employees to fill those positions.
A-Tech is leading Ashtabula County in preparing students with the specialized technical skills that are in demand. And the school will soon host hundreds of sophomores who want to gain a competitive edge for college or careers. Sophomore Showcases begin November 21st.
Students will select and visit four of the school’s 20 Career-Technical programs with a chance to get on the application list early. The application process includes a look at student transcripts, discipline and attendance records. A visit to the Career-Technical program is required to complete the application process.
In addition to gaining the highly-technical skills that are in demand, A-Tech students are earning industry certifications and college credit.
A-Tech grad Bob Rivers completed the Culinary Arts program, and now owns a coffee shop near Pittsburgh. He says A-Tech gave him an edge when he went to college.
“I was learning extra when other kids were just trying to catch up on the basic ideas,” he said.
2011 graduate Kevin Severino agrees. He is now a Tooling & Production Engineer. “I had college credit before I went to college. The courses I took put me way ahead of the other college freshmen,” he said.
Sophomores can submit applications before or after their visit online at www.atech.edu. Students interested in attending the Sophomore Showcases should check with their school counselor or contact Amanda Schumann at 440-576-6015 ext 1115 or email [email protected].
A-Tech Sophomore Showcase Dates
November 21st
Lakeside
St. John
November 25th
Conneaut
Grand Valley
Jefferson
November 26
Edgewood
Geneva
Pymatuning Valley