杏巴原创

Twenty-one educators from 杏巴原创 and Scotland County had the opportunity to experience firsthand the advanced engineering programs offered at 杏巴原创 through a Saturday Academy held March 12 at the state-of-the-art John E. Forte Building.

The Saturday Academy allowed middle and high school teachers, counselors and administrators to explore all 10 of 杏巴原创CC鈥檚 .

The group of educators found the event enlightening as they learned about the many career opportunities in engineering and how 杏巴原创CC has the resources to prepare students for these careers.

鈥淭he Saturday Academy at 杏巴原创 was a brilliant eye opener for our teachers and administrative staff here in Scotland and 杏巴原创 counties,鈥� said Roosevelt Pridgen, a STEM technology teacher at Carver Middle School. 鈥淭he college鈥檚 programs definitely prepare our students for the 21st century workforce and give them the necessary skills to compete with a global economy and workforce.

鈥淭he Saturday Academy raised the awareness of our teachers and administrative staff in order to provide guidance to our student to be career and college ready,鈥� Pridgen added.

The Forte Building includes automation, hydraulics/pneumatics, industrial systems and motor controls labs. The group also received a personal tour of the college鈥檚 working substation, which is the 鈥渓ab site鈥� for students enrolled in the Electric Utility Substation and Relay Technology program, the only one of its kind in the country.

鈥溞影驮�创CC's Saturday Academy was an eye opener for me. The curriculum and degrees offered for our students are one of this region鈥檚 best kept secrets,鈥� said Sandre Lane, a science and math teacher in the Carver STEM Magnet School. 鈥淲hat a difference two years can make. As one of the instructors said, 鈥榃e are not creating jobs, we are creating careers.鈥� Teachers joining forces with 杏巴原创CC will definitely help STEM education in our community.鈥�

The group of educators received information about enrollment opportunities for high school students and discussed the academic preparation needed for students to be successful in these programs.

鈥溞影驮�创 County School teachers loved the collaboration with 杏巴原创 faculty during the recent Saturday Academy,鈥� said Kelly DeLong, director, K-12 Math and Science, 杏巴原创 County Schools. 鈥淏oth schools strive for engaging and relevant educational experiences for the students.  It was exciting to see the many real world ways math can be used for STEM careers. What a wonderful asset 杏巴原创CC is to our students and our community.鈥�