Education Careers Students Compete at Leadership Conference

New Castle Career Center Education Careers teacher Leesa Meyers, center, won the Spirit of Advising award at the FCCLA State Leadership Conference Saturday, March 9th.

“Meyers’ dedication to students in the Education Program and New Castle Career Center is unparallelled,” said NCCC Assistant Director Mackenzie Jackson.

Indiana Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is the Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students with an interest in Family and Consumer Sciences (F&CS). Organized at the local chapter, district, state and national levels, FCCLA provides students with the opportunity for contextual, problem-based learning through participation in national programs and state projects. Students demonstrate proficiency in F&CS knowledge and skills through the FCCLA competitions, called STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) Events.

Gold medal winners from the New Castle FCCLA Chapter were: Emmalee Wilkerson, Knightstown High School; Maddie Banta, Hagerstown High School; Kaylee Fisher, Shenandoah High School; Annie Gillock, New Castle High School, Sarah Spicer, New Castle High School; Kaylen Sears, Shenandoah High School; and Adam Nadler, Hagerstown High School.

Silver medal winners were: Malory Polston, Blue River Valley High School; Kelsey McGill, Shenandoah High School; Kate Schmeisser, New Castle High School; Katie Lundy, Tri High School; Kelsey Simpkins, New Castle High School; Ashlyn Johnson, New Castle High School; Luke Milner, Blue River Valley High School; Chloe Ayres, New Castle High School; Brooke Howe, New Castle High School.

Bronze medal winners were: Taylor Craft, Tri High School; Zoie Prince, Tri High School; Karigon Schatzer, New Castle High School; and Summer Chase, New Castle High School.

*Pictured – Front row, from left:Emmalee Wilkerson, Maddie Banta, Instructor Leesa Meyers, Malory Polston, Taylor Craft and Kelsey McGill.Middle Row:Kate Schmeisser, Kaylee Fisher, Annie Gillock, Zoie Prince and Katie Lundy.Back Row:Sarah Spicer, Kelsey Simpkins, Ashlyn Johnson, Karigon Schatzer and Summer Chase.

The Future is Here
Mar 15, 2019

The Machine Trades class pose with their new Haas Mini Mill, which will allow them to learn and apply programming and machining skills as they prepare for the transition into industry. Pictured from left to right are Tyler Decker of New Castle, Jacob Stewart of Shenandoah, Luke Beach of Hagerstown, Devin Laymon-Davis of Hagerstown, Christian Harding of Tri High, Mitch Morris of Hagerstown, Cameron Marcum of New Castle, Jared Richardson of Knightstown, Lucas Hamm of New Castle, and Nathan Gwinn of New Castle.
The future of machine trades arrived in the Machine Trades class at the New Castle Career Center in the form of a new Haas Mini Mill. The mill uses computer numerical control (CNC) technology to create precise parts. The technology is already in use by several employers in the area.
“For this generation of machinists, this is what their future is going to be,” said Greg Dickerson of New Castle Career Center’s Machine Trades program. “CNC technology is widely used by local manufacturers.”

Dickerson pursued the acquisition of the mill as he noticed a change in the industry’s demands. Henry County’s Redevelopment Commission (RDC) and the New Castle Henry County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) provided the funding for the mill.

The HAAS Mini Mill arrived in late February with the help of Mideastern Machine Movers, who donated the time and equipment to move the mill from the truck and bring it inside the Machine Trades work room. The installation process is extensive and should be nearing completion by the time students return from spring break April 8.

Crown Equipment has unofficially adopted the Machine Trades class, according to Dickerson. Crown uses a similar type of mill and has offered to send one of their toolmakers when the mill becomes operational to help with downloading programs into the machine.

The Mini Mill can create single unique parts or thousands of identical parts. Dickerson already has some projects in mind for his second-year students who will be using the mill this spring.

“Every project will have a learning objective in mind,” he explained. “One example may be a simple engraved aluminum block or learning how to establish the location of a pickup point on a part.”

Students will learn how the auxiliary functions work and are programmed. They will train as machine operators, with the opportunity to learn more advanced aspects. Dickerson has already noticed that the mill has helped recruit students for the next school year.

“It’s a high-demand field right now,” Dickerson said. “The availability of jobs is enormous. I’m getting calls from Muncie wanting recommendations of students. I’ve sent interns to Crown Equipment in New Castle, Magna Machine in Messick, Hoosier Feeder in Knightstown, Impact CNC in Rushville, Service Engineering in Greenfield, and Chesterfield Tool and Engineering in Chesterfield. They are begging for young people to get into the field.”

Space is still available in the Machine Trades class for the 2019-2020 school year. Contact the New Castle Career Center for more information, (765) 593-6680.

New Castle Career Center welcomes over 500 students each year to participate in the 18 programs available through the center. Students can attain technical skills, earn college credits, an Ivy Tech diploma, industry certification, and gain helpful work-related experience. The Career Center recently hosted an open house for students and families, and the deadline for application is March 11.

Area schools who partner with the Career Center to send students are Blue River Valley, Eastern Hancock, Hagerstown, Knightstown, New Castle, Shenandoah, Tri, and Union. Juniors and seniors from these schools who are interested in applying should contact their school counselor for more information. Those who participate attend their home high school for a half-day and are enrolled in a 3-hour/3-credit career program for the remainder of the day.  

“Even if the student didn’t attend the open house, there’s still an opportunity to enroll for the 2019-20 school year,” shared Chris Lamb, Director, New Castle Career Center.

Programs available include Advanced Manufacturing, Building Trades, CNA, Cosmetology, Dental Careers, EMT & Public Safety, Facility Maintenance, Health Science Education, Machine Trades, Veterinary Science, Broadcasting, Computer Operations, Culinary Arts, Education Careers, Engineering, Graphic Design, ICE, Marketing & Sports Entertainment, and Welding.

Classes are taught by instructors with real-world experience in their field and offer students a way to begin learning about a vocation before starting post-secondary education or entering the workforce. For more information about New Castle Career Center, visit nccareercenter.org and follow the New Castle Career Center on Facebook.

*Pictured: Computer Operations student, Jacob Henley, attends Hagerstown High School