Wawasee senior Allison Stookey was highlighted during the Pathways CTE ‘signing day’ event held Monday evening in Syracuse. Stookey has been awarded a full-ride scholarship to Purdue University Fort Wayne to study electrical engineering. “Allison’s hard work and ability to figure out solutions to computer programming problems helped her have an excellent year in class,” said Pathways instructor Nate O’Connell. “She was an outstanding student this school year and I believe she will do great things in the future.” Pictured in front from left are O’Connell, Allison Stookey and Samantha Stookey. Standing are former CTE director Vince Beasley and current CTE Director Jon Everingham. InkFreeNews photo provided by Jon Everingham.

By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Senior Pathways CTE Cooperative students from Wawasee High School enjoyed the program’s first-ever “Signing Day” at the school Monday evening.

Similar to an athletic signing day, Pathways students had the opportunity to be celebrated during an open house to share their academic achievements with their families, friends, teachers and fellow students.

The Wawasee students joined their coop peers from West Noble, Goshen, Fairfield and Columbia City high schools in sharing their future plans, including entering the workforce, entering a post-secondary school or enlisting in the military.

“We have about 350 students in 14 different vocational programs,” noted CTE Director Jon Everingham. “Students attend their home school for a half day and then a half day with us through Pathways. We have a wide range of academic abilities within our programming. We have the college-bound students, but we also have students who are entering the workforce right after high school. We’re attempting to close that skills gap, so when a student exits their high school educational experience they have a skill and can go right to work if they want to.

“You’d be amazed at some of the stories about the wages kids are making as they step right out of our programming and right into the workforce.”

Everingham added he hears from many of the program’s industry partners that a lot of them are in need of skilled workers. While he noted the program isn’t the answer in its totality, it is part of the solution.

“We have kids walking out of here and walking right into industry who have work-ready skills,” he said.

There are approximately 150 Wawasee students in the Pathways program who attend classes in the main building before heading off to their Pathway programming, whether at the CTE building on Wawasee’s campus or possibly to Fairfield or Columbia City for their particular area of study.

“We have a well-oiled machine,” Everingham said. “We have great teachers who build great relationships with our kids. We focus heavily on building relationships with kids and then moving on to curriculum. Also big to us is the dual credit programs through Ivy Tech and Vincennes and the industry recognized certifications.”

Juniors and seniors from the participating schools are able to apply for the Pathways program. Generally, most of the areas of study are two-year programs. The first year, student can pick up their dual credits; in the second year they can focus on the industry-recognized certifications. Everingham said the outcome-based programming is what they are focused on.

“We’re at near capacity in a lot of our programs,” he said. “Students fill out an online application. We take a look at those and depending on the capacity levels in each program, sometimes we have to take a look at who the students are and what their interests are. But for the most part, when a student applies, we take them.

“We’re growing and we’re excited. Just a shout out to another great school year and to all of our instructors who work very hard to positively impact kids all across the academic spectrum.”

Among the students recognized during the evening were Wawasee students Coli VanLue, automotive technology; Daisondra Schafstall and Chelsey Brady, culinary arts; Caleb Wiseman, marine mechanics; Reagan Fisher, veterinary medicine; Allison Stookey, Power Up and Super Mileage; Jimena Lopez, health sciences; Olivia Ousley, health sciences; AunaLee Meerzo, health sciences; and Paris Pruitt, health sciences.

Parents, friends and classmates were invited to gather inside the Pathways CTE building on the campus of Wawasee High School to honor the graduating seniors involved one of the 14 programs offered.