Mahoning County Career and Technical Center waitlists students in several areas of study
Students interested in the electrician, cosmetology, cyber security, welding, and creative arts and design programs at Mahoning County Career and Technical center have a lot of competition as dozens of students are being placed on waitlists for those classes. The ability to get an associate degree while graduating from high school and a very competitive job market are driving many students to schools like MCCTC.
The increasing interest in the skilled trades and associate degree or certificate programs is leading to some students being waitlisted at one Ohio school. According to a report by WKBN, dozens of students wanting to take the electrician, cosmetology, cyber security, welding, and creative arts and design at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center have been placed on waitlists.
The Marketing Director at MCCTC, Jessica Cene, talked to WKBN about why the school is seeing such high enrollment: “By the time you step foot on a college campus, you’re light years ahead of everybody else.” This is because the school offers associate degree programs for high school students.
John Zehentbauer, superintendent of MCCTC, also weighed in on the impact these classes are having on students entering the workforce, saying of employers, “They’re looking at our juniors at the end of their junior year. They’re recruiting them to come and work into their companies and businesses.”
WKBN also spoke to two current students, sisters Philomena and Elizabeth Cackovic, who are seniors at MCCTC and in the now-full electrician program. Elizabeth talked about the difference between MCCTC and a more traditionally structured high school: “At my home school, it was, like, kinda difficult for me because there was kinda, like, so much more stuff I had to learn. But here, everything is, like, easier for me and I have, like, good grades here and it’s just, like, changed my life completely.”
Cene mentioned that while the aforementioned programs are currently full for the upcoming fall semester, interested students should keep an eye out as things could change. She mentioned that spots could open up as currently enrolled students may drop classes. She also encouraged any interested students to take a tour of the facility to see first hand if the school might be a good fit for them.
Mahoning County Career and Technical Center is made up of four academies: the Arts Academy, the Machine Team, iCONS Academy, and the Global Academy. Each academy focuses on different areas of study. For example, the iCONS Academy has courses in Allied Health and Pre-Nursing, Animal Science, Biomedical Science, Engineering & Robotics, Exercise Science & Physical Therapy, Tech Networking & Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering & Development, while the Arts Academy has courses in Cosmetology, Creative Arts & Design, Culinary Arts, and Early Childhood Education. In addition to high school programs, MCCTC also offers Adult Programs such as Career Training and Special Interest Classes.