MAHONING COUNTY Center attracts more students

Few students apply for some demanding, but rewarding career programs.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Student interest has doubled in automotive technology and cosmetology programs at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center compared with this time last year.
As of Friday, first-choice applications from high school sophomores for programs they wish to start this fall totaled 12 for automotive technology, compared with six at this time last year, and 41 for cosmetology, compared with 20 at this time last year. The school takes applications until school starts in the fall.
Superintendent Roan Craig attributed the surge in interest in automotive technology to its inclusion of an on-the-job-training program for seniors at General Motors dealerships.
Waiting list needed: Only 20 of the 41 applicants can be admitted into cosmetology, so a waiting list will have to be established for that program, said Craig, who presented the figures to the CTC board Monday. All students indicate a second choice of career training program when they apply, she noted.
Craig said she was surprised by the surge of interest in cosmetology and said it might be because of the popularity of a teacher in that program, whose students have a high pass rate on the state licensure exam.
Other areas that saw major increases in applications were the core business curriculum, which rose from 16 applications at this time last year to 25, reaching its capacity for the first time in five years; building construction and remodeling, which went from 10 to 16 applications; criminal justice, from 22 to 33 applications; medical occupations, from 10 to 17; and visual arts and design from 20 to 26.
"We're building a new information technology lab, and I think that's what students are attracted to in our business department," Craig said. She added that interest in criminal justice-related work has increased since Sept. 11. "There's new respect for people in those kinds of services," she said. "Construction remains one of the big employers right now, where they're really crying for workers," she noted.
Drop in some areas: Precision machine technology dropped from 10 to seven applications, despite the school's 100-percent placement rate in that field and $20 an hour starting pay scales. "I'm not sure if students really understand the job possibilities. They're certainly strong in this area. There are multitudes of machine shops in our area. Lucrative money. High skills. Difficult math," Craig said.
However, Craig said of the program's trigonometry and calculus requirements, "Our teacher swears he can teach any student the math skills necessary to be a machinist. I believe him."
With more trucks on the road today than ever before, board member Paul Good wondered aloud why truck and diesel mechanics, which dropped from seven to six applications, wasn't generating more student interest. "I don't know if kids really want to get dirty," Craig said, adding that she expects the number of applicants for this field to grow.
Declines were recorded in carpentry and millwork, from eight to two applications; collision repair from 14 to 13; culinary arts from 22 to 14; and early-childhood education from 23 to 18. As was the case at this time last year, only one student has applied for horticulture.
The school's demanding FAA-certified aviation maintenance technology program, which Craig said requires students to attend school until July of both years, grew from seven to eight applications. "Continental and US Air have been hiring all of our graduates," she said.
Overall applications from sophomores rose from 211 to 254. "I hope it's because students see that this is a viable means to a career," Craig said, adding that she thinks part of the gain is a result of an improved CTC student orientation program.