WSCC, WSESD host WSCC CTE and Me Day

WSCC, WSESD host WSCC CTE and Me Day

WSCC News is a presentation of West Shore Community College in partnership with Mason County Press.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College, in partnership with the West Shore Educational Service District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, hosted WSCC, CTE and Me Day on WSCC’s main campus May 23 and 24.

It was the second annual event originally initiated by Ludington Area Schools third grade teacher Christine James.  “We were excited to participate again this year,” James said. “This event is exactly what career exploration should look like. We are so fortunate to have West Shore Community College providing the courses and career pathways to give people the skills they need to be successful after high school. My hope is that WSCC, CTE, and Me Day will help build curiosity within our students and help them to get excited about what they can do with their lives in the future.

The purpose of the event is to introduce students to their community college and CTE programs, showing them possible careers, and allowing them to experience certain tasks within six different career zones.  These zones include:

• Arts and Communication;
• Business, Management, Marketing and Technology;
• Health Sciences;
• Human Services;
• Engineering/Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
• Natural Resources and Agriscience.

Almost 735 students from Lake, Manistee, Mason and Oceana counties attended.  The event would not have been possible without significant support from local business and industry.  Sponsors included: Community Foundation for Mason County, Filer Credit Union, FloraCraft, House of Flavors, Manistee County Community Foundation, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology, Michigan Works! West Central, MiSTEM Network-West Central Region, Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Mrs. Mullen’s Closet Fund, Petersen Farms, Corewell Health Ludington Hospital, WSCC Performing Arts, West Shore ESD Career and Technical Education, and West Shore ESD CTE Culinary Arts.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to work with our local third graders and elementary educators,” said WSCC Talent Pipeline Coordinator Wendy Gradwohl-Wells.  “It may be the first time students have set foot on our campus and be the start to building a relationship with future students.”

CTE Director and Principal Jamie Bandstra added, “We are uniquely situated to be able to offer our technical courses on a college campus.  Students can obtain industry training and certifications and choose to go right into the workforce or continue their learning at a level that works for them.”