HCHS Partners with OCTC through Early College and Dual Credit Classes
HCHS students are preparing for the future.
Although the July sun still reminds us we are in the middle of summer, soon Hancock County High School will be welcoming back students for the new school year.
For the past several years, qualifying students have had the opportunity to take “dual credit” classes in addition to their traditional courses.
Dual credit classes are classes taught at the high school but the material students learn is college-level. Students who pass those courses with a C or higher can count the class for both state high school graduation requirements and as college credit.
HCHS offers several college level courses on the high school campus. English and Math classes are offered along with Intro to American Education, Government and Biology. The high school campus also offers Music Appreciation, and Medical Terminology for college credit.
Other HCHS students will be attending the Owensboro campus at Owensboro Community and Technical College and will be taking a full college schedule as “Early College” students. Students who take classes on the OCTC campus are also earning their high school credits but have the opportunity to enter into the college world earlier.
“Last year, we had right at 50 students who attended OCTC’s campus and earned their first or part of their second year as college students,” noted Robby Asberry, Superintendent of Hancock County Public Schools. He added that over 125 dual credit college credit classes were taken by last year’s juniors and seniors at the high school’s campus.
Ginger Estes, HCHS Principal, said, “We are very proud of our partnership with OCTC and exceptionally proud of our teachers who work very hard to be able to provide college level learning to high school students.” Mrs. Estes added, “Our students deserve the best and we love that they have the opportunities to excel in the areas they are interested in. Having the option to go to college or take college classes here on campus offers students one way to enhance their futures.”
In addition to the partnership between OCTC and Hancock County High School that provides opportunities for students to earn college credit while in high school, OCTC offers a variety of programs for students once they have earned their high school diploma. Additionally, OCTC has created pathways that employers can utilize to enhance their workforce in the ever-changing business world.
Listed below are some of the services and offerings that OCTC provides.
Options for High School Graduates
CDL: Start your engines, and hit the road! OCTC’s Commercial Drivers License (CDL) program is a popular option for anyone with little or no commercial driving experience who wants an entry-level position in the trucking industry. OCTC’s CDL course is completed in four weeks and a new cohort launches every five weeks. “Make a Match” events for employers and prospective students are held regularly to provide an opportunity for interested applicants to meet with potential employer sponsors.
The CDL training course includes the following: classroom, range, and road instruction led by credentialed experienced trucking professionals; map reading, trip planning, and vehicle operation training; thorough overview of Kentucky CDL manual, DOT rules, regulations, and log books;Class A road test administered by Kentucky State Police upon course completion; and a certificate of completion and job placement assistance. For more information contact CDL Program Manager/Career Navigator Peter Mattingly at peter.mattingly@kctcs.edu
GO Careers: Earn a great career and a college degree at the same time and with little or no college debt! GO Careers is a work and learn option to train the next generation of workers for the business, service, and financial industries. It offers innovative, apprentice-style education and training designed to create one of the most highly skilled workforces in Kentucky. Students attend college two days per week, while working three days per week at their sponsoring company.
Upon program completion, students receive an Associate in Applied Science degree in
Business Administration, with the additional benefit of practical skills and paid work experience. For more information contact GO Careers Program Manager/Career Navigator Alicyn Rodgers at alicyn.rodgers@kctcs.edu
GO FAME: Earn an industry-recognized degree and gain valuable experience while working in a manufacturing setting! The Greater Owensboro Chapter of the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (GO FAME) is based on Toyota’s nationally recognized training program. This work, earn, and learn model allows participating students to earn an industry recognized degree while gaining valuable work experience in a manufacturing company.
Interested GO FAME applicants must be high school graduates (or equivalency) and be
willing to participate in the programs’ 40 hour per week, apprenticeship-style format. If selected, students attend college two days a week while working three days a week at a sponsoring company.
In as little as 18 months students can earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in one of the two following areas: AMT – Advanced Manufacturing Technician, Associate in Applied Science Degree or CMM- Computerized Manufacturing and Machining, Associate in Applied Science Degree. Plus, with the practical skills gained during the paid work experience, students may get a full-time job with their sponsoring company after program completion and/or decide to further their technical education to obtain a bachelor’s degree. For more information contact GO FAME Program
Manager/Career Navigator Alicyn Rodgers at alicyn.rodgers@kctcs.edu
Healthcare Short-term Certificate Options: Interested in good job opportunities, better compensation, and opportunities for career advancement? OCTC’s Workforce Solutions offers short-term credential options in healthcare including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Kentucky Medicare Aide (KMA), Phlebotomy, and Certified Medical Technician (CMT).
Students who successfully complete these credentialed programs can choose to work in a healthcare field and/or continue in an educational pathway at OCTC. For more information contact Healthcare Program Manager/Career Navigator LaTasha Shemwell at latasha.shemwell@kctcs.edu
TechX: Are you a hands-on learner? Are you looking for a new career, but maybe aren’t sure where to start? TechX can give you the right tools for success! TechX is a multi-craft technologist program offering hands-on training in a real world, industrial environment. TechX offers hands-on construction, fabrication, fitting, welding, and manufacturing training in a realistic, self-paced, industrial environment.
TechX classes are built on project-based coursework to allow students to move ahead once a particular skill is mastered. It encourages students to develop those technical and analytical thinking skills that contribute to work flow and production output, skills needed in most entry level manufacturing positions today.
Participants have opportunities to work independently and in teams with problem-based scenarios that related to the manufacturing processes. Each module is progressive and participating students earn a Gas Welder Certificate, Arc Cutter Certificate, Production Line Welder Certificate and
a Forklift Operators Certificate upon successful completion of the coursework.
Most of the credits earned in TechX bank toward other certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees including Industrial Maintenance Technology. For more information contact TechX Program Manager/Career Navigator Peter Mattingly at peter.mattingly@kctcs.edu
Programs for Employers
Customized Training: OCTC’s Workforce Solutions provides customized training to improve the performance, productivity, and profitability of the region’s workforce. Options range from highly specialized technical options to leadership development programs tailored to the specific needs of business and industry.
Some of the offerings include:
● Mobile Manufacturing Training – robotics, automation, PLCs
● Industrial Maintenance Mechanic and Electrician Training
● Computer-Based Training CBT (over 700 options available)
● Leadership and Organizational Development Training
● Soft Skills Training – ex. productivity, management, customer service
● Short-Term Certifications for the manufacturing, healthcare, and business sectors.
Computer-Based Training: OCTC’s Workforce Solutions offers interactive and engaging computer-based training (CBT) options through its in-house FlexTrain learning system. Online and hybrid training programs are offered in a variety of leadership, professional development, and regulatory topics.
These CBT options allow participants to complete training at their own pace, optimize their learning schedule, and focus on their specific skill gaps. The FlexTrain team offers employers customized instructional design, video production, course delivery, course management, corporate hosting services, certificate validation, course badging, and highly responsive Help Desk support.
Aluminum coils at Commonwealth Aluminum’s continues rolled Products in Lewisport.
OCTC’s Workforce Solutions developed and continues to provide a CBT option for Commonwealth Aluminum’s contractor safety program that is a turnkey, computer-based training, certification, and badging system that is flexible and responsive.
Designed to ensure Commonwealth Aluminum’s contractors demonstrate a genuine understanding and mastery of safe work practices before entering the job-site, the safety course was tailored to Commonwealth Aluminum’s specifications and needs. To date, over 7,800 individuals have completed the Commonwealth Aluminum Contractor Safety Certification.
Workforce Assessments: OCTC’s Workforce Solutions has a full-service assessment center that offers a wide variety of testing including WorkKeys, NOCTI, CompTIA, GED, Department of Insurance, and Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE delivers certification and licensure exams through the world’s largest network of testing centers including the Nationally Certified (NREMT) EMT and Paramedic exams; Cisco and CompTIA exams for IT professionals; GED computer-based testing; American College exams; VMware Inc.; RMA (Registered Medical Assistant); and all ICC (International Code Council) exams, including HVAC and Electrician licensure exams.
