Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Marcie Mack has been elected secretary/treasurer of Advance CTE.

Mack will serve a one-year term through June 30, 2019, on the board of the national nonprofit organization. Advance CTE represents state directors and state leaders responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult career and technology education across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Members of the executive committee are elected by the Advance CTE membership…

 

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Central Tech’s Surgical Technology program graduated seven students in ceremonies on Thursday, June 21 at the Drumright campus.  Last year’s graduates earned a 100% pass rate on their certification test from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Graduating students Leah Hutchcraft of Sapulpa, Savannah Dry of Bristow, Alicia Carr-Rains of Kiefer, Carly Thompson of Cushing, Morgynn McCurry of Cleveland, Cory Sadler of Ripley and Braylee Dean of Milfay.

Students in the Surgical Technology program graduate with knowledge and skills needed to function as a member of the surgical team, deliver patient care, and assume appropriate responsibilities before, during and after surgery. Central Tech students’ average starting salary is $17.10 an hour with the ability to increase as they gain experience. Congratulations to all our students!

To learn more about Central Tech’s Surg Tech program or other classes, please call 918-352-2551.

Kelby Thompson, like many Oklahomans in the early 1980’s, jumped with both feet into the industry so often described as “feast or famine” – the oil and gas industry. The Ada native’s college degree couldn’t entice him away from the prospect of what of was promised in the patch.

Fortunately, for many years Thompson’s career in oilfield sales and various other capacities thrived. However, after 16 years, he found himself experiencing famine. The oilfield went bust and he was unemployed. “I lost everything I owned when I lost my job,” Thompson said. “I ended up basically homeless and hopeless.”

Faced with starting over, Thompson decided to begin a new career with the help of Central Technology Center’s Truck Driver Training program. “I chose Central Tech based on the school and the program’s outstanding reputation,” he said. “Being a part of the program only proved what I had heard from others. The training I received was top-notch and very professional.”

Located at the Central Tech campus in Drumright, the Truck Driver Training program has been in operation since 1988. Today, the school has a placement rate of 98.7 percent and a reputation for producing professional, employable trainees. In only 23 days, students receive hands-on training that gives them the opportunity to go directly into the trucking industry.

“Kelby came to school as a student with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and gain he did,” said Central Tech’s Transportation Safety and Education Director, John Thorpe. “He is the kind of person who everyone likes and wants to be around. As a student in our school he gained the respect of our instructors from the very beginning due to his great attitude and willingness to get along with everyone. He also demonstrated a dedicated work ethic which made him and others around him very successful while at Central Tech.”

Thompson completed the program and went straight to work for Aero Trucking out of Tulsa, where he worked for a decade, moving up from driver into operations and sales for the company. From there he was hired to work for one of the nation’s premier Trucking companies, TMC Trucking, where he has worked for the last 14 years.

Headquartered in Des Moines, IA, TMC Trucking is an employee-owned company, hauling freight primarily in the Eastern United States, east of I-35. TMC is the largest privately-held flatbed carrier in the nation.

Now, 24 years after completing Central Tech’s program, Thompson’s role as a recruiter allows him to give back to the school that gave him the opportunity to start a new career. Thompson speculates that he’s recruited between 100 and 200 drivers from Central Tech’s program over the years, and estimates that around 60 or 70 percent of those remain employed with TMC.

“TMC is a great company to work for. Once drivers come to work for us, they don’t usually leave. They treat their employees well, and that’s important.”

Thorpe further praises Thompson for his efforts to continue to be involved with the Central Tech program. “I have worked at Central Tech Truck Driver Training for the last five years in which Kelby has been recruiting at our school. I have met hundreds of recruiters who have come to our school over the past years, and I can say without a doubt that Kelby is one of the finest. He’s able to speak to our student’s and relate to them simply because he’s been in their shoes.”

Today, Thompson reflects on how his life has changed and what an impact his training from Central Tech has made. “Central Tech’s program is professional and regimented. The instructors and people involved with the program genuinely care about the students, their well-being, and helping them find jobs. They want students to succeed. That’s the bottom line for the people involved with Central Tech’s program.”

“I am proud to be a product of the training program and know that it’s a place where I can find quality employees for a company I genuinely love working for.”

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.

 

 

 

Central Tech hosted the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) Recognition Ceremony, May 10, 2018 at the Drumright campus. The ceremony recognized students in the 2017-18 class and welcomed the incoming 2018-19 class.

Students attending the OSSM Regional Center at Central Tech’s Drumright campus have the opportunity to receive the same rigorous curriculum as OSSM main campus students, while retaining the freedom to live at home and stay involved in regular high school activities.

“The OSSM Regional Center at Central Tech celebrates 20 years of providing advanced science and math courses to rural Oklahoma,” said Brandon Bettes, an OSSM instructor. “Congratulations to our current and former students, and we look forward to the OSSM class of 2019!”

The mission of the OSSM is to foster the educational development of Oklahoma high school students who are talented in science and mathematics, and show promise of exceptional development emphasizing instruction in both.

Central Tech inducted 144 students into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) during a ceremony April 12th at the Drumright campus. “The National Technical Honor Society currently serves approximately 100,000 active members and nearly a million members since its inception in 1984. Awarding over $1.7 million in scholarships to date, NTHS honors the achievements of top CTE students, provides scholarships to encourage the pursuit of higher education, and cultivates excellence in today’s highly competitive, skilled workforce. For over 30 years, NTHS has been the acknowledged leader in the recognition of outstanding student achievement in career and technical education,” according to NTHS.org. Central Tech is proud to strengthen the school’s chapter with the addition of so many students. Congratulations!

To learn more about classes offered by Central Tech, visit www.centraltech.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Tech students and teachers earned national recognition on May 13th in the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Dallas. During the four-day conference, students attended educational seminars and workshops, elected national student officers and participated in many other activities.

This year, four students from the Drumright and Sapulpa campuses placed in their national competition categories. Kelsea Boydston and Sophia Martin earned the top award in the Global Marketing Team category.

In addition to student recognition, Athena Frank, the Business Information Technology instructor on the Drumright campus was elected to the BPA National Board of Trustees. To learn more about BPA, visit their website at www.bpa.org. For more information on Central Tech, visit www.centraltech.edu.

 

 

 

 

Students from Central Tech’s Drumright and Sapulpa campuses earned 23 team and individual awards in the SkillsUSA state competition on April 23rd and 24th in Tulsa, OK. Among those 23 awards, four teams and six individuals placed first, moving most of them on to the SkillsUSA national competition later this year. Students from around the state came together to compete in entrepreneurship, welding, audio production and other various categories against students from all over the state.

One student, Brittney Anson, from Kiefer, earned one of eight 2018-2019 state officer positions.

“I’m proud of everyone that represented Central Tech at the state level and wish the best of luck to those moving on to the national stage,” said Shane Bruce, Central Tech’s assistant director.

SkillsUSA is a national membership association serving high school, college and middle school students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations, and for further education. More than 335,000 students and advisors join SkillsUSA each year, organized into more than 18,000 local chapters and 53 state and territorial associations. In 2017, 19,500 teachers served as professional members and SkillsUSA advisors. Combining alumni membership, the total number reached annually is over 394,000. SkillsUSA has served more than 12.5 million members since its founding in 1965.

For more information on SkillsUSA, visit their website at skillsusa.org. To learn more about Central Tech, go to centraltech.edu.

Students from Central Tech’s Drumright and Sapulpa campuses earned 17 team and individual awards in the HOSA-Future Health Professionals state competition on April 11 in Norman, OK. Among those 17 awards, four teams and individuals placed first, moving them on to the HOSA national competition later this year.

The three-day competition tested students on many aspects of the medical field, including prepared speaking, medical photography, and CPR/first aid. Students were also able to attend educational symposiums, workshops and other learning-based events.

HOSA is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE. HOSA’s two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA’s goal is to encourage all health science instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSE-HOSA Partnership.

For more information about HOSA, visit hosa.org. To learn more about Central Tech, go to centraltech.edu.