NIC takes CTE learning on the road

SANDPOINT — The famous quote, "Love what you do and do what you love," rings true for many people in career-technical education programs.

Take former Sandpoint High School student Talon Dewey for instance. It was the summer between his sophomore and junior year, which he spent backpacking, when Dewey knew he wanted to do something in the outdoor world.

"I've alway been a fly fisher, I've skied my whole life ... I started getting into rock climbing and, really, anything outdoor related I started to do, "Dewey said. "It was the only thing I ever found that I really enjoyed, so I thought, why not get paid for it?"

The recent SHS graduate is now in the outdoor recreation leadership program at North Idaho College, working on a two-year associate's degree. He returned to SHS Friday as a representative for the program during the NIC CTE Roadshow.

"It's really hands-on, out in the field learning the trade," Dewey said of the outdoor program. "... It's super fun and you meet really cool people along the way."

The classes in the program are designed to get students into the outdoor workforce, Dewey said. He said any of those who take the class are guides for white water, hunting, mountaineering and more. Students in the program can get a one-year certification or a two-year associate's degree. 

Tre Higgins, a Lake City High School graduate and Coeur d'Alene native, was giving students a hands-on experience in plastic welding, which is commonly used in autobody repair for things like a cracked bumper. Like Dewey, Higgins was thrilled to talk about what he does in the autobody collision and repair program at NIC.

"This is fast, it's practical; the machine is a little expensive, but it's way faster than adhesives. You don't have to mix anything and it's not nearly as messy," Higgins said as he demonstrated the plastic welding technique. "And it's fun to do. You get to melt pieces of plastic together all day — I enjoy it."

Outdoor recreation leadership and auto collision repair were just two of the 49 programs represented during Friday's roadshow. While many of the programs were CTE, several transfer programs were in attendance as well. Also represented were the University of Idaho, three branches of the military and the American Institute of Clinical Massage.

"We are excited to bring this opportunity to our students and our community," said SHS postsecondary counselor Jeralyn Mire, adding that SHS was honored to serve as a hub to bring all of these "great" programs together for people to learn more about them. "(The programs) require one to two years, and then you are out making a great wage."

Malia Meschko, SHS computer-aided design teacher and event organizer, said the feedback she received Friday from roadshow attendees were positive, in that the event was bigger than last year and very well organized.

"I'm thrilled and it's a great turnout," Meschko said.

The event gave students the opportunity to learn about and ask questions of programs they are interested in, as well to getting hands-on with some of the programs. The massage group, for example, was literally hands-on, providing hand massages while discussing the profession and answering questions. 

One thing SHS sophomore Rachawna Garner said stood out to her about the event was that women were encouraged to do "men's jobs." Of the programs she looked at, Garner found welding and diesel mechanics the most interesting.

"That's something I have wanted to get into and talking to these people, they are encouraging me to do it and to choose to do the things I want to do," Garner said.

NIC representatives travel to different schools each year to introduce the different CTE programs available. This was the second year SHS hosted the event, and students from Lake Pend Oreille High School and Clark Fork also made their way over to check it out. Organizers hope next year to see even more students, as well as parents and community members, stop by the roadshow.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.