Technology Center director offers insight at monthly chamber event

When people drive by the Career and Technology Center off Interstate 55, they rarely see what's beyond it. But director Rich Payne offered an overview of the facility during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee.

At least 200 people attended the monthly event at the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Payne, going into his 14th year as director, said the center offers 23 programs to high school juniors and seniors from 10 school districts and two private schools, Notre Dame Regional and Saxony Lutheran high schools. In most cases, those students have a chance to earn college credit and real-world skills. If full enrollment isn't achieved, adults can be placed in the classes, as well.

Programs such as licensed practical nursing and emergency medical technician were offered for high school students last year, and many other programs such as auto body collision repair, automotive technology, basic flight, culinary arts, digital media and HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) are full.

Payne said the LPN program for high school students is the first in the state.

"We had nine students in that program last year. It took us a little while to get enrollment going because the state board of nursing had to approve our particular program," he said.

Students in their senior year of high school can enter the EMT program. Once they complete the course, they can enter the paramedic program, he said.

Health programs -- nursing and physical therapy assistant, for example -- continue to be popular, and welding is always in demand.

The 142,000-square-foot center at 1080 S. Silver Springs Road also houses the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education, formed to deliver community college services in Cape Girardeau and the area.

Assistant director Libby Guilliams estimated during the regular school year, at least 1,500 come through the center in a week's time.

"It's probably more than that if you take into account the partnership students," she said. "We're full to the gills and overflowing."

The center has an articulation agreement with Mineral Area College, based in Park Hills, Missouri, where students can earn college credit while in high school.

"We are not a degree-granting institution, so we cannot offer degrees. We can offer certificates, but we cannot offer degrees," Payne said.

With Mineral Area, students can take all their coursework at the Career and Technology Center, and the only time they attend the college is to graduate, and their diplomas are issued by the college.

Payne also paid tribute to Gary "Sonny" Gilbert, 81, who died July 4 in an accidental drowning. He said Gilbert created the foundation for what the Career and Technology Center has become.

"My product at our school is people ... people that you can hire, and people that will work for you, and people that have the skills in order to be productive employees for the business and industry community ... which we support. I just had to touch on that because you cannot move forward into the future unless you understand historically where you came from," Payne said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 1080 S. Silver Springs Road