The Clark County Area Technology Center is ensuring the community’s future is bright.

Principal Todd Wilson said the center has grown significantly over the past 20 years, with more than six times the students enrolled than in 1999.

“We want to get as many kids as employable as we can,” Wilson said.

In 2019, nearly 625 students are enrolled in one of the many pathways at the ATC, studying in classes and gaining on-the-job experience with one of center’s many community partners.

Wilson said the ATC currently offers automotive technology, carpentry, health sciences, industrial maintenance, information technology, integrated engineering technology and welding. Nearly all pathways provide an option for students to get certified.

The new building was finished in 2014 and is part of the new George Rogers Clark High School campus on Boonesboro Road.

Wilson said tacking the ATC on the high school was one of the best decisions, offering exposure to the many programs offered at the center.

“Every kid has to walk in these hallways, and they can see what’s going on here,” Wilson said. “That’s the best thing.”

ATC first opened in 1969. It was formerly known as a vocational school; students would travel down the hill behind what is now the Campbell Junior High School to attend classes.

“The high school has always had some sort of vocational program,” Wilson said.

However, Wilson said he has seen exponential growth in recent years as many students realize the benefits of choosing a trade in light of the rising cost of college tuition.

“Students still have a choice to go to college if that’s what they want, but the technical side is becoming very big,” Wilson said.

The technical field is growing, too. Kentucky is experiencing a greater need for qualified tradespeople.

The ATC’s automotive technology program trains students in the repair and maintenance of automobiles. Most of the course is hands-on work, but getting a base knowledge of function is essential. The students work on everything from brake systems to electricity.

Bryce Thomas, a graduate from the ATC’s automotive program, now works at Subaru full-time. He completed his co-op at the dealership in their automotive department and was hired on after graduating high school.

“He has moved (high) up the ladder very quickly,” Wilson said.

Most students take at least four classes in their chosen pathway, Wilson said.

The carpentry program prepares students for employment in the residential and commercial construction industry. Students are involved in blueprint reading, layout, fabrication, foundation, walls, floors, ceilings and roofs of structures.

“It gives students the real-world experience, shows what really happens,” Wilson said.

Students use several forms of materials such as wood, metal, plastics, fiberglass, Styrofoam, and concrete in the construction process. Training emphasizes instruction in the care and safe use of hand and power tools.

The health science program, which the center’s largest program, provides secondary students with orientation, exploration and preparation into the health care industry.

Courses are sequenced to provide continuous student progress toward achievement of a career goal in any of the health science pathways.

The integration of literacy, numeracy, science, employability, 21st Century skills and technical skills is a vital component of each course offering, he said.

The information technology program provides its 120 students with the concepts and skills needed to diagnose and repair personal computers.

The program is also intended to allow students to view other parts of the technology industry such as networking and security.

Robbie Barnes, the primary instructor in the IT program for about five years, said the classes are designed to provide students with concepts and skills needed to diagnose and repair personal computers as well as to allow students to view other parts of the technology industry such as networking and security.

Barnes said if students choose the college route, those certifications may count as college credit.

The typical cost of the certifications is more than $400.

Barnes said the IT industry is booming and there aren’t enough qualified workers to fill the vacancies.

Barnes often receives calls from employers looking for workers with a robust knowledge of computers. He said it’s important to have this program available to students because of the prevalence of technology.

Jacob Green, a student in the IT pathway, said the classes inspired him to go into computer science as a potential career.

Welding students learn to weld various types of metal using several methods and processes.

Students train in oxy-fuel cutting operations, layout and blueprint reading, job site safety, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding.

Wilson said one student has been welding on the new gymnasium after completing his classes for the day.

Wilson said Clark County ATC also has active chapters of SkillsUSA and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

HOSA’s mission is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science education students, therefore, helping the student meet the needs of the health care community, according to ATC’s website.

In the coming years, Wilson said he would like to see more dual-credit options for students as well as growing the partnerships in the community.

“We want kids to be employed [in Clark County],” Wilson said.

Current partnerships include Leggett and Platt, Sekisui, Winchester Municipal Utilities, Subaru, Chamber of Commerce, Freedom Realty and more.

About 80 seniors participate in a co-op partnership.

“We’re in the process of starting an internship program or co-op with Valvoline,” Wilson said.

ATC is also finalizing a partnership with GenCanna.

Wilson said the more internships, apprenticeships and co-ops, the better.

“Of course, my ultimate goal would be at some point in time, I would love to see every senior in the school at noon be out doing some sort of internship, co-op or community service,” Wilson said.

Wilson said ideally, the ATC would grow into an academy where students can also complete core classes within the school, with core classes emphasizing the technical parts of English, math, etc.

“Sometimes kids struggle with that … that old-fashioned way of doing math and science and stuff like that,” Wilson said. “We can do the more real-world, hands-on type of stuff.”

Wilson said the ATC is mostly funded through federal grants; however, he noted ATC sometimes requests funding from the district for new equipment.

ATC is also funded via donations; Wilson said the ATC wouldn’t survive if it weren’t for his teachers asking for donations in their spare time.

“We had the hospital give us six or seven hospital beds,” Wilson said. “Those beds were about $10,000 a piece.”

Some folks even donate cars for the automotive students. Wilson said those types of donations are essential because it allows the students to work and learn in an environment that is identical to one in which they would work once they graduate.

“It’s a good learning tool for the kids,” Wilson said.

Wilson said of the nine teachers ATC employs, most of them come from the trade industry so they have to go back to school to teach, but most are making less teaching than what they were while working in their trade.

Funding will prove to be a continuing challenge as ATC grows. Wilson said the center is going to have a learning curve while it adapts to Kentucky’s new accountability system.

“We will likely have to add new programs for our kids to be transition ready,” he said.

Wilson said he would like to explore adding an HVAC program, a business program, fire and law enforcement training and more.

“We just need to keep growing and move forward,” Wilson said.

Clark County hasn’t seen much growth in the 21st century, with the population stagnating as surrounding communities continue to grow, and Wilson said the reason is many students leave for better opportunities elsewhere.

That is why the ATC is important, Wilson said. The center is actively working to shape the community’s future by providing students the tools to gain real-world experience as well as giving many students opportunities to work within the community; hopefully, enticing the students to stay in Clark County after they graduate.

Without the ATC, Wilson said, many students may be lost in a sea of career options.

The ATC is a guiding force, leading students to a golden discovery: a pathway to a prosperous future. §