Tag: Cosmetology
Connecting Industry and Education
The State Chamber has taken an intense interest in workforce development with the introduction of a plan to consolidate all workforce related funding and resources under a new agency with the sole purpose to provide workforce solutions to Oklahoma’s businesses.
Chad Warmington, president and CEO of the Oklahoma State Chamber, Ben Lepak, executive director of the State Chamber Research Foundation, Skye McNiel, executive director for OkACTE (Oklahoma Association for Career and Technology Education), along with Dr. Lee Denney, interim state director of Oklahoma CareerTech, toured Central Tech Monday hearing how the technology center trains students to meet the needs of the workforce.
One of the chambers workforce incentives is to “increase access and support to degree and industry endorsed skills certificate programs tied to critical occupations and support employer incentives for work-based learning programs such as apprenticeships and internships.”
Central Tech, a part of the Oklahoma CareerTech system, mirrors that incentive with programs incorporating real work experience through clinical practice, internships, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships. Graduates complete the program sitting for industry recognized certifications.
Another chamber incentive is to “encourage businesses to participate in career pathways or career exploration programs that are specific to the current and future needs of Oklahoma’s economy.”
At Central Tech, businesses partner with the technology centers programs by serving on advisory committees to determine programs offerings, curriculum objectives, and align courses and curricula with industry identified skills. These committees help determine the future high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand jobs ensuring businesses have access to a pipeline of talent for tomorrow’s workforce.
This past year Central Tech achieved a 94% placement for students entering the workforce or continuing their education.
Tag: Cosmetology
As part of a state competition diesel mechanic and welding students, Colt Robertson and Zachary Riley, trained cosmetology students in car maintenance and beginner welding techniques. The community action project named “Helping Hand” took place at the Central Tech campus in Drumright last Friday, April 8.
Every cosmetology student who attended the instruction, both in the morning and afternoon classes, had the opportunity to learn things everyone should know and yet oftentimes does not. Earl Elliott, the diesel instructor at Central Tech, named a few things each group was trained on.
“What we went through today was changing a flat tire, starting a car, checking a battery, checking fluids, how to look up on your vehicle, what your vehicle would take as far as different types of fluids and oil,” he said.
Welding Instructor Troy Elliott, also had a student take part of the day to instruct the cosmetology students on how to do tack welding, which is used as a temporary hold before final welding is done.
“Welding is doing a very quick paced instruction where they are doing T-plates. They lay one flat and stand the other up on it and tack it together. So far this morning every person in cosmetology got to strike an arc, burn a rod, and make a tack.” Earl said.
Since word spread about the collaboration other class instructors have begun to express interest in doing it as well.
“Today (April 8) we have cosmetology and we will have other classes – next week we will have medical assisting and health careers has already inquired about having one of these instructions as well,” said Earl.
He explained this will be the third year for the diesel and welding classes to work together in this competition but the first year doing this particular project, which was actually suggested by Monica Frick, the cosmetology instructor.
“This will be our third year to compete; we hadn’t been able to compete the last two years due to COVID, our first year was 2017,” he said.
According to Earl, the Central Tech team won nationals in 2018 by building lockers for the fire department as their project. The team will be competing for state in Tulsa on April 24; if they win they will go on to nationals in June.
By DeAnna Maddox, Drumright Gusher
Tag: Cosmetology
Students from our Cosmetology, Design Drafting, Medical Assisting, Business and Information Technology (BIT), Graphic Design, Interactive Multimedia, Pipeline Technology, and Surgical Technology programs volunteered at the 49th annual Special Olympics Summer games in Stillwater on May 9th and 10th.
Central Tech has become a regular at the Special Olympics Summer games. “They literally schedule the events around when Central Tech can be there,” said Monica Frick, Cosmetology instructor. “It’s a blessing for my students to participate; they love it.”
At the event, students assisted with judging and working with individual athletes, coaches and parents.
Community service is an important part of the Central Tech experience. The Central Tech connection with Special Olympics is grounded in the belief that we can instill a sense of community and compassion in our students. “No matter who we are, everyone needs love, understanding and a support system,” said Tammy Silkwood, the Medical Assisting instructor. “We all look forward to Special Olympics and seeing the participants’ hard work, excitement and their never give up attitudes.”
The goal of Special Olympics is for individuals with disabilities to have opportunities to share their gifts and talents and be accepted within their communities. The athletes, big and small train for the big day along with their coaches. Their families, peers and community members are there to encourage and support them along the way.
To learn more about Special Olympics and ways you can volunteer visit www.sook.org/get-involved/ or contact Kate Wigent, Volunteer Manager at kate@sook.org. For more information on the classes and programs Central Tech offers, visit centraltech.edu.
Tag: Cosmetology
Central Tech Cosmetology Instructor Monica Frick was awarded Oklahoma SkillsUSA North Central District Advisor of the Year for 2016-2017, on February 24, 2017, at the North Central District Spring Leadership Conference in recognition of exemplary service and leadership to students of SkillsUSA Oklahoma.
Frick’s work with the Action Skills Contest on the national level has impacted hundreds of students over the years and her care and compassion for students at all learning levels is a model for advisors to follow.
Central Tech is proud of Frick and congratulates her for receiving this prestigious award.
