In recognition of his academic dedication and achievements, Wyatt Brewster, a student at the Career Center and senior at New Castle High School, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. This scholarship offers financial support, covering full tuition, mandatory fees, and a designated allocation for books and equipment throughout his four-year college education. Five other area students were finalists for the scholarship. Three were also Career Center students.  This opportunity will greatly assist Wyatt in pursuing his higher education goals.

At the Career Center, Wyatt is an active participant in the Supply Chain and Logistics program. Inspired by discussions with the Career Center instructors and others, his passion for business drove him to join this program. Wyatt’s knowledge has grown significantly through the business courses provided by the program. In this program, students acquire expertise in logistic management, supply chain strategy, planning and design, customer service, purchasing, forecasting, warehouse management, and transportation systems. The program allows students to earn 18 business college credits in one school year and is taught at Ivy Tech by Ivy Tech faculty.  In the second year, students can participate in work-based learning opportunities to gain practical experience. Wyatt took this opportunity to gain an internship at a local company.

Wyatt’s Internship Experience at Crown Equipment Corporation

Wyatt’s internship is at Crown Equipment Corporation in New Castle. He is learning about inventory and materials handling while working alongside supply chain managers with expertise in manufacturing planning.

“At Crown, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting talented and motivated professionals in the manufacturing world. The sheer knowledge we have in our community is pretty impressive,” Wyatt noted. “Crown has helped foster my curiosity and has been awesome to intern for. I look forward to my future with Crown Equipment Corporation.”

He thanked Shelly York, Forrest Plank, and Charlie Morgan,  at Crown for facilitating his internship. He emphasizes that his time at Crown has been positive and significantly enhanced the value of his education.

A Journey For The Future

After graduating from New Castle High School, Wyatt plans to work before starting his freshman year at DePauw University in Greencastle, where he will major in finance. At DePauw, Wyatt’s academic achievements have earned him recognition as a Lilly Scholar, Honorary Rector Scholar, and Management Fellows (Business Honors Program) member.

However, Wyatt’s aspirations extend beyond a finance degree. He intends to pursue additional education to become a licensed Realtor and further his studies in insurance to obtain an Indiana insurance license. This multifaceted approach is a launchpad for exploring various business fields and discovering his true passion. In the coming years, Wyatt will embark on a journey of exploration, seeking a career that resonates with his interests and goals. With a solid academic foundation and a clear vision for his future, Wyatt is poised to thrive in the business world.

Career Center Education And Impact

“I see my education through the Career Center as a blessing to my higher education journey and a valuable insight for me to help support a more innovative educational experience,” Wyatt shared, “The Career Center has laid out the framework where I’m gaining an education and work-based learning not available to many students across the state.”

Wyatt extends his gratitude to Career Center Director Mackenzie Jackson and Career Counselor April Williams for their support and leadership. He also acknowledges the flexibility and encouragement the teachers at New Castle High School provide. Wyatt’s humble attitude and unwavering commitment to professional standards are paving the way for a successful future, and we eagerly anticipate his continued growth and achievements!

The Culinary Arts program at the New Castle Career Center provides students with a chance to study culinary arts and hospitality management through hands-on activities and initiatives. High school juniors and seniors who participate in the program can earn up to 19 Ivy Tech dual credits and their Culinarian Certificate before graduating from high school if they complete the Culinary I and Culinary II programs.

This is a great option for students interested in professional food preparation, working in a commercial kitchen, catering, creating menus, and culinary math. Through the Culinary Arts Program, students master knife skills, ServSafe Food Handler certification, basic cooking, and baking. This program provides the skills and knowledge needed to work in a commercial kitchen, including food preparation, menu planning, food cost, catering, food safety, and personal hygiene.

Culinary Arts projects and activities 

Throughout the semester, culinary students engage in projects and hands-on activities to prepare them for the real world of hospitality. Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Robin Boucher says, “These projects help students realize there is more to cooking and baking than just producing food. They learn about costing, recipe yields, high production, time management, and organization.”

Recently, Culinary I students completed their final semester project: a Gingerbread Creation structure. To complete the project, students had to draw their structures to scale, calculate recipe costs, make the dough, and design and construct their structures. This spring, students will compete in a ProStart culinary competition with students from around the state. Another anticipated project is Restaurant Wars, a partnership between the Culinary Arts and Graphic Design programs. For this project, students will create a restaurant from the ground up and showcase it to family and friends at a dinner event.

Work-based learning at local restaurants

Culinary II seniors engage in work-based learning at local businesses three days a week. They apply the skills acquired in class to a hospitality and culinary setting. The program currently has students working at Primo, Culvers, Block & Brew, Burger King, Scooters, and Park Restaurant.

“I encourage students who aren’t sure what they want to do after high school to take the (Culinary Arts) program. Eating is a necessity, so you might as well learn how to cook and bake.” Chef Boucher said. Additionally, “there are also several non-food jobs that fall in the hospitality field, like content creators, tourism, event management, and travel coordination.”

The Culinary Arts Program is one of 20 programs available through the New Castle Career Center. For more information, visit ncccareer.org and follow the Career Center on Facebook.