The seats lining New Castle High School’s Fieldhouse are scheduled to get some tender loving care this summer.

New Castle Career Center has received enough money from Eastern Indiana Works to pay up to 12 students in the NCCC Building Trades program to work on the Fieldhouse through June and July.

NCCC Director Chris Lamb was able to secure $92,000 in grant funding to pay the students for eight weeks of work.

“It’ll be a big savings for the school,” Lamb said.

First, the Building Trades students will replace cracked and damaged seats. Then, they will strip, sand, prep and stain the new wood. Lamb said they will also stencil on new lettering before putting on a finish coat.

The Building Trades program normally focuses on new construction. Students don’t typically get the opportunity to experience restoration techniques like they will get in the Fieldhouse project.

“Our students are gaining valuable work experience for their resumés and new skills,” Lamb said.

Lamb said the summer project will not cost the Career Center any money because the New Castle Community School Corporation is covering the cost of materials.

New Castle Superintendent Dr. Matt Shoemaker told his school board earlier this month he originally expected the Fieldhouse restoration project to come with a substantial price tag.

With the Eastern Indiana Works grant, the corporation can afford to pay for the project out of the capital project fund.

“It’s going to save us money, it’s going to give the kids experience, and they’re going to be able to do something to restore a beloved landmark,” Shoemaker told his board.

Lamb expects the restoration work to begin June 6.

– Story by Travis Weik at The Courier-Times. Read more local stories at www.TheCourierTimes.com. Email Travis at TWeik@TheCourierTimes.com.

Right now, New Castle Career Center Health Science Education seniors have one big thing on their mind: graduation. It’s finally their turn to walk across the stage and receive their diploma. As they say goodbye to high school they have the opportunity to begin their next chapter at Ivy Tech Community College.

The New Castle Career Center has worked with Ivy Tech to ensure students can easily transfer credits there. After graduating from high school, Health Science Education students have the opportunity to begin the Nursing Program as a direct admission. This means that if they complete the prerequisites for the nursing program and are able to score high enough on the TEAS test (Test of Essential Academic Skills, designed to assess a student’s preparedness to enter a health science field) they will begin nursing school immediately.

Twelve students committed to attending Ivy Tech Community College after graduation. These students will study a variety of subjects including nursing, exercise science, and radiology. Along with a variety of career studies, the students will be attending a mixture of Ivy Tech campuses as well.

Joplin Clements, of New Castle High School, plans to attend Muncie Ivy Tech in the fall. After studying to receive her RN, she hopes to become a wound care nurse. Several factors led Clements to choose Ivy Tech.

 “It’s really affordable. I also love the small campus and the student to teacher ratio,” she said. “It makes it a lot more personable.”

Both David Peck (Knightstown High School) and Gage Taylor (Hagerstown High School) had the same idea when they chose Ivy Tech. They loved that it was close to home and affordable in respect to other nursing programs. Peck and Taylor found a passion for nursing during their clinical visits and this led to their decision to continue on to nursing school.

“I suggest Ivy Tech to my students because you can’t beat the affordability and the opportunities they have,” Lainey Millikan, Health Science Education Instructor noted. “Students have the ability to immediately begin the nursing program, and it really is a great starting place if you want to continue on to receive a BSN or NP.”

Signing day is usually associated with an athlete signing a letter of intent to continue their athletic career at a four-year university. The Machine Trades Program at New Castle Career Center recognizes that there are other opportunities awaiting students after graduation and want to celebrate with a different kind of signing day. Students at this signing day are entering the workforce and signing up with an employer who is eager to have them implement what they’ve learned at the Career Center.

“Signing day is important because it gives the students a sense of accomplishment,” explained Greg Dickerson, Machine Trades Program Instructor. “This day shows how we can connect young people who have a good work ethic and ability to learn with employment opportunities.”

Four students from the Machine Trades Program participated in career signing day: Christian Harding from Tri Jr. Sr. High School, Cole Garrity from Knightstown High School, Mason Maynard from Eastern Hancock High School, and Cole Manning from Eastern Hancock High School.

Christian Harding will graduate with 12 dual credits and continue pursue a degree in engineering at Ball State University. While attending Ball State, he has committed to working at Delaware Dynamics. Dickerson commented, “Christian took to work like a fish takes to water.”

From the moment Crown Equipment Corporation met Intern Cole Garrity, they knew they wanted him for good. “It was his willingness to learn that immediately caught my attention. Cole always had a great attitude and a smile on his face,” noted Dustin Baker of Crown Equipment. Shelley York, Human Resources Director at Crown, added, “A few months ago a tour came through and we gave Cole zero notice. He stepped up and recruited interns for the next semester. I admired him so much for that.”

Garrity will join Crown’s team after graduation. “I’ve loved watching my friends grow in the Machine Trades Program- just to see where we started and where we are now,” Cole said. “The opportunities are endless. I’m glad there was another option to college. It’s just not for everyone.” Garrity was also the recipient of the Butch Fairchild Academic Excellence Award.

Mason Maynard will be graduating with 41 dual credits and is considering attending Ivy Tech in the fall. Mason entered his job with Hoosier Feeder with rave reviews from his teacher. “Mason is the first Machine Trades student to receive a NIMS Certification. He was also the first student to use to the new HAAS CNC Mini Mill,” Greg Dickerson explained proudly.  “I’ll miss Mason the most out of the seniors. His height saves us twice a year because he’s the only one who can reach the clock for daylight savings.”

“With all the training he already had and his personality- I knew he would fit right in,” Vice President Chris Schombert of Hoosier Feeder said. “We are a growing company and I’m very excited to see what we can learn from Mason and what Mason can learn from us. He has an incredible skillset and will be a great asset to the team.”

Cole Manning was the first student in the senior class to secure an internship. He knew he wanted to work somewhere that felt comfortable to him. It only made sense to connect with someone he has known for years, Brad Groce of Impact CNC. “I’ve known Cole for quite a while and knew he was a good kid. He was very willing to learn and honestly showed up more than my full-time employees. I can’t wait to have him around,” noted Groce.

Dickerson recalls a story of Manning’s dedication to attendance. “Over the winter we had quite a few snow days. I told the boys they weren’t expected to go to their internships since the roads were pretty terrible. Cole however told me that you never miss a day of work and that’s just how his dad raised him to be. And by golly, he never missed a day of work.”

Not only is signing day a way for the students to be recognized and celebrated by employers, but it is also an opportunity for them to congratulate each other. After spending two years in a machine shop together, bonds start to form amongst the students.

“I think signing day is a great event because we get to see the future of our classmates, who have turned into our friends,” Christian Harding explained. “Watching them sign that piece of paper and know they have so many open opportunities is great.”

Chris Lamb, Director of the New Castle Career Center, is proud of the work happening in the Machine Trades Program. “Signing day is great because it showcases that students are going out into a workforce into a career that they are trained for and that they truly want. They are stepping into a career, not a job.”

The Machine Trades Program teaches students to read blueprints, use CAD software, operate machines, and more. Learn more about the program here: https://nccareercenter.org/program/machine-trades/

Seven Dental Career students from New Castle Career Center volunteered Saturday, May 18, in the Indiana Mission of Mercy Free Dental Care at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The event was Friday and Saturday. Over the two-day period, more than 2,000 patients were treated for various types of dental care which included X-rays, crowns, dentures, partials, fillings and cleanings. Patients of all ages were seen by the volunteers. More than 1,000 people volunteered their services ranging from dental assistants, hygienists, dentists, lab techs and front-office staff.

The local group included students Hannah Cole, Marissa Combs, Skylar Grinstead, Paige Richards, Ari Robinson, Justice Scott and Zaria VanGoethem, along with Dental Careers Instructor Christina Steigerwalt.

“The students enjoyed their time volunteering for those in need of dental care,” Steigerwalt said. “It is a great opportunity for people who cannot afford dental services to get completely free treatment and prevent serious infections down the road. I am grateful for the students and I hope this was an opportunity they will never forget.”

– Story by Courier Times Staff Report at The Courier-Times. Read more local stories at www.TheCourierTimes.com.

The popular movie Jungle Book left the general population with the assumption that tigers have a hunger for boys named Mowgli. Melody Warner, Instructor of the Veterinary Science Program, hopes her students from the New Castle Career Center will have a different assumption after traveling to a big cat rescue. The Exotic Feline Rescue Center (EFRC) is a rescue center that gives big cats a second chance.

Located in Center Point, Indiana, EFRC provides permanent homes for exotic felines that have been abused, abandoned, or for a variety reasons have nowhere to live. Housing about 200 exotic felines, the EFRC is one of the largest rescue centers in the United States. Not only does the EFRC rescue and house these creatures, but they also offer tours to educate the public about big cats. Founded in 1991, EFRC believes that these felines have much to give and deserve to be treated in a humane manner.

“We go on this trip to expose students to the exotic cat issues,” explains Warner. “We take the tour and then are able to visit the clinic and ask questions that we might have. The trip is very beneficial to my students because it brings light to another career option. It also educates them on why exotic felines are not to be a family pet.”

The New Castle Career Center has visited the EFRC for the past seven years. The students appreciate being exposed to rescues that are outside the box of their daily norms. After experiencing the trip, students are able to come home and explain why exotic animals should never be family pets. They also gain an understanding for wildlife preservation and how important it is to be properly educated on all varieties of animals.

The Veterinary Science Career Program gives students the opportunity to learn animal anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. While studying large and small animal disease and infection control they also gain experience in animal handling and grooming. For more information about the Veterinary Science Program visit their website at NCCareerCenter.org.