Southeastern Career Center
Quarterly Newsletter April 1, 2024
Indiana's First Career Center - Est. 1964
Educating Tomorrow's Leaders Today!
Indiana CTE
SCC Principal's Message - Mr. Adam Pietrykowski
I am Adam Pietrykowski, SCC's Principal.
On behalf of the Southeastern Career Center I want to thank you for taking the time to follow our new quarterly newsletter. It is our hope that you will find this newsletter to be interesting and informative. We are excited to be able to bring you just a little taste of all the amazing things that our students and staff at Southeastern Career Center have been involved in.
Each of our programs have a section, where the instructors and students have provided some highlights from the last few months. While this newsletter is only able to scratch the surface on all of the things that students are able to do here at Southeastern Career Center, we also hope it gives you a window into the one of a kind learning experiences we offer. I think when you see what we get to do each day you will understand why I am proud to say that I am a part of the Southeastern Career Center team.
Student Services Coordinator's Message - Mrs. Amy Solly
Hello!
I am Amy Solly, Student Services Coordinator.
Student Services is in charge of student events, providing counseling services, giving tours and/or presentations about SCC, scheduling and enrollment, recognizing student achievement, public relations and more.
In February, we wrapped up our tour season. We had over 2,000 new visitors that explored Southeastern Career Center campus. February was CTE month. (Career and Technical Education). We highlighted students, staff and our programs with interactive activities and events for a whole week.
On March 8th, we hosted our annual Fearless Female event. We had over 150 females from our 10 partnering schools ranging from 8th-10th grade come visit. They were hands-on in building trades, auto, diesel, electrical, heavy equipment, welding and precision machines. Students left with free T-shirts, goodies and lunch, thanks for our awesome donors! This event is designed to provide young women awareness to opportunities in male dominant career fields.
Pictured below are some of these events, along with some of our student's achievements.
We highlighted the 2024 CTE Students of their program for CTE week. This means these students demonstrate soft skills, positive attitude, are team players, helpful, academically strong, hard worker and define what it means to be a career and technical student. Congratulations on your hard work!
Here are the AM students:
- Colton West - Criminal Justice
- Cameron Blasek - Welding 2
Henry Strotman - Electrical 2
- Alexis Harrison- Ochs - Health Careers 2
- Zoey Bowling - Health Careers 1
- Braden Helton - Dental Careers 1
- Levi Rutledge - Computer Repair
- Brayden Grant Tice - Facility Maintenance 2
- Lloyd Darringer - Fire & Rescue
- Isaac Hartman - Electrical 1
- Jacob Miller - Diesel 2
- Callie Roberts - Cosmetology 1
- Brooke Wagner - Veterinary Science
- Aaron Annis - Auto 2
- Kolton Combest - Heavy Equipment
- Axzander Wehmeyer - Welding 1
- Hailey Bowling - Cosmetology 2
Here are the PM students:
- Paul Meer - Diesel 1
- Joshua Fryman - Construction Trades 1
- Dustin Boyd - Networking
- Emily Romero-Perez - Dental Careers 2
- Jesse McIntosh - Construction Trades 2
- Shy-Ann Holmes - Digital Media
- Nolan Lecher - Advance Culinary
- Evan Heath - Culinary
- Angelina Tunny - Auto 1
Click on the picture to watch our Fearless Female event video!
Skills USA State Officer and Building Trades II student, Danielle Griffin (far left), meeting with Senator Randy Maxwell to talk about the benefits of CTE!
SCC PATHWAY NEWS
(click the pathway title for a direct link to our website)
WELDING TECHNOLOGY
This quarter in Welding Technology we have the first year students starting small projects. They have already completed most of the fundamentals of welding and now they are getting to see the applicability of what they have learned.
As for the second year students, they are working diligently on project of all kinds. We take everything they learn in the first year and put it to use in the second year class. We have worked on everything from farm machinery to fire props for the Versailles Fire Department, and everything in between.
We are currently putting a fabricated bumper on a truck, repairing a hay spear for a local farmer, and repairing a shooting target stand for Laughery Valley Fish and Game Club.
This year has been very challenging for us, as we are currently expanding our Welding II lab, more than doubling the size and capability of our shop. We have also had some new equipment donated by our partner Vincennes University, who has helped keep us tooled up and ready to do anything under the sun. Our welding student look forward to the challenges that test our minds.
VETERINARY SCIENCE
The Veterinary Science class has been working hard learning anatomy and physiology this semester.
We had special guests visit as we explored skeletal anatomy by labeling anatomical areas on sweet baby goats.
Most recently students dissected chicken wings to study muscles, bones, and connective tissue.
We have also been covering how to perform complete physical exams and working through the client communication aspects of a veterinary visit. Thanks to our beagle friends we have been able to practice nose to tail physicals.
The students have also been working with the Ripley County Humane Society throughout the year to socialize animals and have given baths to the canine residents to make them look their best for potential adopters.
DIGITAL MEDIA
Students are exploring the world of film production and produce a plethora of projects, such as short films, detailed VFX shots, and exceptional displays of compositions. Most recently students documented the SCC Make An IMPACT event and are working with that video currently.
We also have students studying CG art so they can learn to 3D model, animate, and texture assets to integrate into various 3D applications such as Maya and Unreal Engine. We also have been breaking down the process of 3D printing and generating the files to do so.
A favorite project for the students is painting their printed characters and objects. Second-year students have been utilizing their time to create art and projects to showcase in a professional portfolio to gain employment as well.
BUILDING TRADES
Then they spent the next couple weeks laying out and constructing a masonry block wall. This is a skill that is hard to master in a short period of time but the students did an excellent job. The quality of work is as good as any master mason, it just takes them a little longer.
The students now have some experience with commercial plumbing, masonry construction, pouring concrete, painting walls and trim, suspended ceiling, and even toilet partitions. This restroom renovation is much needed upgrade as our female enrollment continues to increase year by year.
This is one of those projects that our students can show off to their kids in a few years as they bring them to tour the building as potential students.
Wow time flies when you’re having fun!
ELECTRICAL TRADES
In the last couple weeks we have been wiring up our labs and have been working on troubleshooting issues. One way we practice is we wire the room in the lab wrong and try to stump the other students from the AM to PM sessions. Once the other class figures out the problems with the rooms, they get to fix them. They then go back in and make new problems for the other session. It teaches them to think on their feet as well as show them many problems they may come across in the field or on the job.
Electrical Trades II has been wiring a house during the 2023-2024 school year. The wiring started in August and continued thru all phases of construction with the finish work ending in February.
Some days were very hot and and some days were very cold. Students were able to work in different environments and overcome weather conditions through planning and coordination.
All students did a phenomenal job and were able to see the job from start to finish.
It has been very satisfying to see the completed project of something they can be proud of for years to come. As their instructor, I am very proud of the Electrical II students.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
We have created a cleaner stone walking path between several of our buildings and labs. The stone walking path is in between the Welding II shop and the Diesel shop, then goes on from the Diesel shop to the Auto II shop. We did this by excavating down approx. 4-6 inches and approx. 6' wide. We removed existing stone (which we made use of inside of the Heavy Equipment lean-to) and replaced it with a clean stone that will allow water to pass through. This will allow students, teachers and visitors to move about outside under wet and sub par conditions without getting wet or muddy feet. Jobs like these take the lessons of the classroom and apply them to real world work.
We have also created an additional staging area for Auto I. We first removed a small building, then excavated 6 inches of material from outside of the Auto I lab. We then placed 6 inches of #53 stone in the excavated area. We made sure we had slope for drainage and the stone compacted.
All of these projects should make time spent at SCC a little nicer!
What a work crew!
HEALTH CAREERS
Health Careers I students are elbow deep into Anatomy and Physiology this quarter. They've had the experience of dissecting different organs of the body. Thanks to Wayne's Meats in Milan for their donations, we've dissected eyeballs, lungs, and hearts. This gives students the ability to see these organs first-hand instead of just seeing pictures in a textbook.
Health Science students are getting ready to go on a field trip to NKU cadaver/Innovation lab to see human cadavers and explore the human body. It's a great experience and the students love to tie together what they have learned in the lab with the real thing.
In the picture, Zoe Bowling (EC), Keiara Shaw (SD), and Leanna Davis (RS) work together to find the segments of the heart.
Health Careers II students have been very busy for Quarter 3!
CNA state certification tests were top on the agenda and from there many of them have joined the Capstone program and are putting their talents to work at our local healthcare facilities. The reports coming in are very favorable!
Alexis Harrison-Ochs was named the Outstanding CTE Student for the Health Science II program. Jade Smith was selected as the Outstanding Third Quarter AM student and Jenni Labra is the Outstanding PM student.
For those students who didn’t join the Capstone program, we have been working on a variety of projects, including employability skills and soft skills. Attendance at the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce job fair provided the opportunity to explore different career choices in our community.
The students successfully recruited, advertised and organized a Hoxworth blood drive for SCC students and staff where 115 units of blood were collected.
We are currently working on First Aid Certification and making plans for our State HOSA convention which will be held in April. Twenty four students are attending and preparing to showcase their talents. Wish us luck!
DENTAL CAREERS
Dental Careers II students that are in class presented to Facility Maintenance. Many other Dental II students are out getting real world experience in their clinical placements.
Such a busy time for all of them!
CULINARY ARTS
The Southeastern Career Center Culinary Arts Classes are preparing to take their SERVsafe certification test in April.
We are also working hard in our student run business that includes catering for events inside the school and pick up orders for clients. We recently made 2 birthday cakes and catered two retirement parties. We have also hosted the Lawrenceburg School Board for dinner after they had toured our school, this gave us a chance to practice plating, garnishing as well as service.
COSMETOLOGY
Cosmetology I students are currently learning the importance of measuring hair color with a scale to keep track of their product loss. They have also been working on time management with keeping on track with their goals for the day.
Students have also had the opportunity to job shadow, getting a chance to put their skills to the test.
Cosmetology II students have been busy in the SCC Salon working on color placement and haircutting techniques. The SCC is currently open 3 days a week, providing our students with great opportunities and our community with great service!
The Skills USA Cosmetology Contest was at the Prosser Career Center in January. Two out of the five winners are SCC senior students! These girls will advance to State in April!
COMPUTER REPAIR/NETWORKING
Later in the quarter students broke a system for others to fix. They created both a hardware and a software problem, whether that be removing ram, changing settings in BIOS/UEFI, or changing windows settings. Some of the students even installed viruses on the computers or made a file to crash the computer. This activity sharpens the student's trouble shooting skills and prepares them for challenges in the industry.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
In Criminal Justice, public speaking and understanding the elements of a criminal offense are paramount to the profession. Students are in the process of putting together a PowerPoint presentation on an infamous crime that will be presented to the class. This project achieves several goals: research and understanding of crimes, public speaking and instruction to an audience on the details of a criminal act.
Crime scene investigation is on the schedule in the coming weeks.
FIRE & RESCUE
The students from Fire Rescue spent their time over the last few weeks working on the Hazardous Materials part of the course. This includes HazMat identification, defensive actions to take during a emergency response as well as HazMat Decontamination. Students are preparing for their certification tests through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security in early April.
The students also took advantage of some good weather to work on some Firefighter I skills at the Versailles Training Facility. Students worked on the proper approach for attacking a vehicle fire, advancing hose lines and standpipe operations.
Students will be experiencing their first live fires after returning from Spring Break.
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Auto I the students were introduced to the Electrical portion of the program. This involved hands on application on one of the many Atech electrical trainers available. These trainers simulate factory electrical systems in multiple vehicles and provides a “real world” troubleshooting challenge. We are also utilizing the Superflow engine dynamometer as an extension of our ASE engine program. The students are testing, modifying and retesting engines to look for changes in horsepower and torque.
Auto II students are using the laser alignment rack to perform four wheel alignments on many customer vehicles. This included a 1968 Mercury Cougar that both Auto 1 and Auto 2 have helped to restore.
The Auto II class has also been involved in extensive steering and suspension work. This involved plenty of ABS/traction control and minor engine performance repairs.
We also had the privilege of repairing a donated vehicle so that it could be given to a family in need.
DIESEL TECHNOLOGY
I really couldn't have asked for a better group of students this year, they are very capable and do well at taking on all the tasks I give them. Needless to say, our students here in Diesel I have learned a lot since the beginning of the year and are eager to apply their newfound knowledge to Diesel II next year!
Diesel II has been busy with multiple projects which included replacing a clutch on a HQ Kubota MX5400, an engine swap on LX865 Skid steer, numerous tractor trailer brake jobs and a semi Clutch job.
The students also did a OBS 7.3 Turbo upgrade along with a clutch R&R. Some other repairs also involved a 04 Dodge 24 Cummins VP44 R&R and quite a few ball joints and front end work.
That's a small taste of some of the things we've done so far this year.
This quarter, the Capstone Program students have been learning about personal finance such as what it takes to get paid, how to read their paystubs, and how to budget. They have also been learning the importance of savings tools such as checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificate of deposit accounts. We discussed what each account type is and their level of liquidity.
We also had 3 students highlighted for Capstone Employee of the Month, which are shown below.
Outstanding SCC Staff!
Mr. Iceberg - Electrical II Instructor
Mr. Iceberg does an amazing job of connecting with his students and bringing the real world into his curriculum. Mr. Iceberg is still an active electrician when he isn't teaching his course, and the students really enjoy learning from someone who is still active in the field. The credibility Mr. Iceberg maintains with his students allows him to push them harder, and ask more of them, than a typical classroom teacher can. Southeastern Career Center is very happy to have Scott Iceberg spearheading our Electrical II program.
Mr. Prather - Welding I Aide
Crystal Kimla - Custodian
Sheena Truesdell - Main Office Secretary
Sheena wears "many hats" in her role but she handles it well. She is always willing to help out with ideas or whatever is needed and we appreciate her! She is a true worker not taking a break that I know of except lunch. She keeps the school running. She has a heart that truly cares about SCC students and staff.
On February 13th the Southeastern Career Center Adult Education was invited to the Indiana Statehouse by Indiana Association for Adult & Continuing Education (IAACE). SCC Adult Education received a Business Partner Recognition for stellar support of Indiana Adult Education.
Southeastern Career Center is proud to be a part of the Adult ED Movement!
Pictured below is James Bruce (SCC Welding I Instructor) and April Johnson (SCC Adult Ed Director) receiving the award from Konnie McCollum (IAACE Board President)
We would like to congratulate the following adults that attended this past fall and earned their certifications:
CNA Certifications: Pictured left to right - Kailyn Allen, Nicole Goodpaster, Becky Hooten, and Ashley Mitchell (picture unavailable)
Welding: Xavier Juarez, Jobi Evan, Draven Sellers, Trenton Keith, Austin Robbins, and Trevor Bryant on earning their FCAW 3G certification.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 8 - SCC eLearning Day
April 10 - 12 - State HOSA competition
April 18 & 19 - State SKILLSUSA competition
May 1 - Sign On Day
May 16 - SCC Graduation
May 24 - Last SCC Student Day (Excluding Cosmetology)
June 3 - Last Cosmetology Student Day
June 17 - 20 - Summer of Stream Camps at SCC
August 5 - First SCC Student Day
August 22 - SCC Connections Night