Property and Facility Management is one of the newest programs at the New Castle Career Center. Taught by instructor Josh Richardson, this program teaches high school students safety, communication, and construction skills.   

Richardson has been teaching for sixteen years in a variety of roles: from elementary school to adult education, and now at the Career Center. He currently leads a group of thirteen students in the two-year program and values the learning process the students undergo while in his class. 

“Property and Facility Management is unique in that the students gain hands-on experience from projects we do in the public. We utilize our curriculum to gain construction-specific skills and then use that new knowledge on various projects around the community,” Richardson noted.  

During their time in this program, students are continually learning about various skilled trade jobs available and are introduced to jobs they may have never heard of before. Field trips and community participation are vital components of the student’s development. 

This year, students have completed a variety of landscaping jobs such as refurbishing the flower areas at Neal Field and weeding at the Danielson Center and EMS building. They also assisted with the layout of Baker Park’s new frisbee golf course and helped a community member by building a ramp needed for their elderly dog, who was having trouble getting up the stairs. The class is currently working on the farrowing barn at Blue River High  School.  Community partnerships with organizations such as New Castle Main Street, Baker Park, and the Art Association of Henry County have allowed many learning opportunities and will continue to do so in the future. 

Richardson appreciates these community relationships and credits them for the increased confidence he has seen his students gain in their own skills and abilities. 

“Naturally we have lessons that we pour over, but this class is based on doing projects outside the classroom,” he shared. 

If you would like more information about the New Castle Career Center Property and Facility Management Program, follow the New Castle Career Center on Facebook, visit the website at nccareercenter.org or call the New Castle Career Center at (765) 593-6680.

Today’s students are faced with important decisions that impact their career path. The New Castle Career Center aims to help students in this decision-making process. Drew Greenwood chose to attend New Castle Career Center as a high school student, and that decision led to a successful career in engineering. 

Dave Allen is the current instructor in the Engineering Program at the New Castle Career Center. 

“This class introduced Drew to the basics of engineering,” Allen noted. “He learned how to look at problems as challenges rather than obstacles, and in doing so, learned to find solutions.”

During his time in the Engineering Program, Drew solidified his passion to pursue an engineering career, and he graduated from high school and the Career Center in 2016. Drew is now the Senior Maintenance Team Leader at BWI Group in Greenfield, Indiana. In this role, Drew is responsible for the maintenance of the entire facility. 

BWI Group has approximately one million square feet of manufacturing equipment and material transportation systems. Drew leads a maintenance team managing equipment breakdowns and failures along with new equipment assembly and installation. Drew regularly uses the foundational skills he learned in the engineering program to successfully lead his team. 

Drew is happy with his career choice. He loves his job at BWI and is looking forward to his future. 

Allen has been teaching a variety of programs through the Career Center for the last 12 years and has a special fondness for the Engineering Program. As a young adult just getting started in the workforce, Allen worked in steel fabrication where he met several engineers and developed an interest in the subject.

“I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to teach engineering,” he shared. “It is such a satisfying position to watch students as they learn to recognize the problem and then work to develop a solution.” 

Allen also appreciates the variety of work students experience within the Engineering Program. Whether it be designing a rocket, making an airplane, building a model bridge, or testing wind loads on a skyscraper, students can explore the diversity of the field.  

Just as Drew Greenwood has enjoyed success in his career in the engineering field, David Allen looks forward to many future students doing the same. 

If you are interested in more information about the New Castle Career Center Engineering Program, follow the New Castle Career Center on Facebook, visit the website at nccareercenter.org or call the New Castle Career Center at (765) 593-6680.