TMCC's Career and Technical Education Open House on February 20 will help prospective students explore career opportunities in the New Nevada.
Do you like working with your hands, fixing complex systems and the idea of joining a fast-paced and rapidly growing industry? If you answered “yes” to any (or all!) of these questions, chances are you’re ready to take the first step into a future in the New Nevada!
Join the faculty and staff of TMCC’s William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center for an Open House where you can get a hands-on experience each of our program offerings to decide for yourself if a future in Applied Technologies is the future for you.
“There's a shortage of workers for middle-skill jobs which are the largest part of the labor market nationally and regionally,” said Interim Dean of Technical Sciences Barbara Walden. “These jobs require more education than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree. TMCC’s career and technical education programs provide education for these job opportunities.”
“The Open House gives potential students and their parents the opportunity to see what is taught and available in our building,” said Wes Evans, Professor of Technical Sciences. “They will be able to see the equipment used as well as how we instruct in the classroom, and more importantly the labs.”
What are you waiting for? Come and find your exciting future!
The Details
- What: TMCC Career and Technical Education (CTE) Open House
- When: Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 6:30 p.m.– 8:30 p.m.
- Where: TMCC William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center, 475 Edison Way, Reno
What to Expect
Imagine you’ve never welded before, but you find yourself several stories high on a job site with a metal seam that needs binding. You’re holding a welding gun (something you’ve never done) and as you apply pressure to the seam, the sound of crackling, melting metal resounds in your ears.
Only… you aren’t on a job site at all. Instead, you’re standing in the Applied Technologies Center IGT Hub, where a Virtual Welding Machine simulates the process of making a simple weld. There are no sparks, no severed fingers— just you, safe and sound.
Likewise, the CTE Open House event will bring prospective students as close as possible to the programs housed within its 102,000 square feet. Guests can come face-to-face with home and commercial air conditioning systems, self-guided robots in the Industry 4.0 Lab Advanced Manufacturing program, the CNC machines from the Machining Program that guests can operate to make a key chain and automobile and large diesel engines in their respective departments.
Other highlights of this year’s Open House event will include new trainers for the Advanced Manufacturing program who can give prospective students real work experience and knowledge. HVAC/R is offering three new commercial control classes that focus on building automation systems. Machining will also feature an updated, state-of-the-art CNC equipment.
Who Can Attend
The event, which is geared toward prospective students, is designed to address the unique concerns of juniors and seniors in high school, those seeking dual enrollment options and adults in the community who are looking to start a new career in applied technologies.
The Open House format will encourage visitors to engage with faculty and staff and to see the facility and equipment firsthand. A computer lab will be available for prospective students who want to apply for the program, or look into classes that are needed to complete a specific certificate or degree. “The biggest benefit [for attendees] is that you get to meet the instructors...and be able to see first-hand the training methods used and the equipment that they will be trained on,” said Evans.
“The part I like most about the CTE Open House is seeing the enthusiasm participants have when they learn about a particular CTE program and the types of jobs they can get,” said Walden. “The average person will work about thirty-five years and I believe we should seek a career that sparks our interest and can provide good living wages.”
Participants are encouraged to explore the varied and diverse programs by way of a scavenger hunt, collecting items such as signatures or information. Completing the scavenger hunt enters participants into a raffle in which they have the chance to win a free three-credit class from TMCC.
Representatives from other entities, such as TMCC’s Admissions and Records Office, Access, Outreach and Recruitment, Jump Start, Financial Aid, TMCC High School and ACE High School will also be present.
In short, if your future resides in the New Nevada, set a reminder for February 20th—it could be a start to a whole new you!
To RSVP or for more information, contact the Office of Access, Outreach and Recruitment at 775-673-8236.