The Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) is partnering with FASTLANE to help Champaign County manufacturers recruit and retain engineers. The partnership created two online surveys to be completed in April – one by engineers employed by the manufacturers and the other by the companies’ human resource directors.

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio – The Ohio Hi-Point (OHP) Career Center satellite program began Fall 2004 when Graham Local Schools and OHP partnered to expand access to career-technical programs. The goals of the satellite programs are to provide more resources to help students prepare for both career and college, grant opportunities for young people to discover and be proud of their talents, and recognize the industry needs so that we can equip students with the experience they need to be successful in the future job market.

Today, the program has grown to 52 programs, 44 teachers, 3 administrators, 2 technology coordinators, and 1 administrative assistant who serve over 3,000 students across the district. Satellites are located within 11 of OHP’s 14 partner schools, plus an aviation program at Grimes Field in Urbana. Satellites bring career-technical education to students rather than students traveling to the Career Center in Bellefontaine.

At the request of the Champaign Economic Partnership, Honda and other manufacturers, OHP implemented high school Advanced Manufacturing programs and middle school Pre-engineering programs which was a large equipment investment for OHP.

In response to health industry needs, OHP implemented Allied Health & Nursing programs at Kenton City schools and Marysville STEM schools. Students earn their certificate and work as State Tested Nurse Assistants while in high school. Some use this program as a stepping stone to other health careers. In addition, PLTW Biomedical Sciences is offered by OHP at Graham Local schools.

Aviation Occupations students at Grimes Field are privileged to work on the Urbana B-17 Bomber Project with area volunteers while learning about aviation history and military life.

Responding to the I-70 corridor explosion and need for logistics, OHP implemented Supply Chain Management and Logistics programs at Triad Local, Marysville EV, and Graham Local schools.

Further, OHP provides Business programs at Graham Local, Riverside Local, and Indian Lake Local schools that teach students basic business, accounting, management, marketing, professional, and entrepreneurship skills. Students are using their skills to operate coffee shops at Graham Local and Triad Local schools. The satellite directors are implementing IT programs at Upper Scioto Valley Local, Kenton City, Marysville STEM, Mechanicsburg EV, and Graham Local schools. These programs teach students computer trouble-shooting/repairs, programming, and interactive media skills.

Satellite students get the opportunity to assist the technology departments, broadcast school announcements, create videos, operate a small radio station, and learn digital design.

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center is also collaborating with Clark State Community College to embed Precision Agriculture into its existing Ag Business/Production Programs at Graham Local and Triad Local schools since this pathway has not yet been developed by ODE for high schools.

Students receive academic assistance, explore careers, and participate in experiential learning opportunities through OHP Career Based Intervention programs at several locations. The job market is demanding a talented, qualified, technology proficient employee. Satellite programs help us deliver those opportunities and enhance the efforts we are making to prepare the next generation of students throughout the districts we serve.

-Dr. Rick Smith, Superintendent of Ohio Hi-Point Career Center

About Ohio Hi-Point
The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center develops our most valuable resource, people, by providing quality career-technical and academic education programs. Our High School and Satellite Divisions serve juniors and seniors from 14 partner school districts and offer more than 30 career training programs, while our Adult and Continuing Education Division has a strong focus on customized training, providing businesses the training needed to strengthen, and prosper in, the community.