December 2018 | Vol. 12 Iss. 12
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VOCATIONAL TRAINING BECOMES HIGH-TECH ordan High students Rhiannon Adderley and Jordan Barrus tried out Utah Valley University’s airplane that was on display. Adderley, who is a junior, said they had learned about topics from engineering to aviation services. Barrus, who is a sophomore, said, “I’m looking around, getting an idea of what I want to do.” Learning about career opportunities is one reason Career and Technical Education (CTE) leaders in Murray, Granite, Jordan, Canyons, Salt Lake and Tooele school districts as well as area charter schools wanted to hold a showcase where high school students could explore and ask questions to college and industry leaders. “We want to open the students’ eyes,” said Janet Goble, Canyons CTE director. “They may not know what exists or how the ones they’re familiar with have changed. This gives them a chance to interact and be exposed to these careers and talk to those in the fields. Many industries are offering parttime jobs, internships, education reimbursement and one-on-one conversations about opportunities.” Goble said it’s an effort to support “One, two, four or more,” meaning post–high school education and training such as earning a certificate to a doctorate program. “It used to be pushed that job opportunities came with a four-year degree and that’s not true anymore. There’s a severe shortage in all the skilled, technical areas as the current workforce is retiring. Some starting careers can reach six figures and tuition reimbursement,” she said. Such is the case with Komatsu Equipment, said Matthew Pruss, Komatsu Equipment director of human resources. Komatsu, which supports the Utah Diesel Technician Pathways through educational opportunities at Jordan and Canyon technical education centers, was just one of more than 100 businesses and college and university departments at the Oct. 16–17 Pathways to Professions’ Career & Technical Education Showcase.
Pruss said workers earning “six figures” rings true in the diesel tech careers, where they also offer apprenticeships and help pay for education. “Careers are becoming much more high-tech,” he said. “These careers aren’t the grease monkey positions that we used to know. Now, our technicians are on the laptop, understanding electronics, coding and programming.” For example, a drone’s photography may be used to measure elevation, which then can be used in developing models of roads or where to place piles of dirt when building a future school site. From there, technicians build and create models with 3D printers, which may be used when excavating with computer-programmed autonomous hauling machinery and trucks. “There are prototypes where there are no drivers in the cab; they’re already be tested,” Pruss said. “We’re needing technicians right now and students can work right into the program where we’re experiencing shortages.” Stephen Hemmersmeier, marketing department data coordinator at Jerry Seiner Dealerships, said they too are experiencing a technician shortage in the automobile industry, and incentives such as tuition reimbursement for two-year technician certification programs are possible with Jerry Seiner Dealerships. “Many students think it’s working with your hands and tinkering with engines, but now it’s being able to upload and run diagnostic equipment on the computer,” he said. Hemmersmeier, and other company representatives, interested students through hands-on activities at the Pathways expo. At Jerry Seiner, students participated in a “Minute to Win It” scavenger hunt to identify 25 parts of a Kia Stinger. “It’s a fun, interactive way to get students involved, and then they feel more at ease to ask questions,” he said. Drayke Gray, a cadet with Salt Lake City Fire, answered students about what he does and why he chose to enter a program for students from age 14 to 18 Continued on page 4...
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Jordan High students Rhiannon Adderley and Jordan Barrus check out Utah Valley University’s airplane at the Pathways to Professions showcase. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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