CTE Month also inspires community colleges to remind their constituents about the abundance of programs of study they offer leading to high-paying careers in stable and growing industries, particularly in the locales they serve. 

Amarillo College has numerous CTE programs – from Automotive Collision Technology to Welding – designed with input from local industry partners such as Amarillo Gear, Bell Helicopter, Yellowhouse Machinery, Street Toyota, and others, with an eye toward meeting labor-market demand.

Additionally, new programs are often considered as local industry needs arise. For example, AC will launch a Construction Technology program next fall, with two pathways from which to choose.

One option will introduce students to concepts of general construction as they apply to residential and commercial construction.

The other pathway covers not only broad general-construction concepts, but also the specific concepts of carpentry as they apply to roofing, flooring, and finishing systems.

AC will introduce a new Learn and Earn concept to complement the Construction Technology program. Learn and Earn will be a community-wide, internship initiative designed to empower AC students to gain skills and work experience necessary that enhance both career entry and advancement.

Later this spring, AC has plans to conduct a CTE-related job fair (April) and a Women in Industry event (May).

For more information about CTE program opportunities at Amarillo College, please contact David Hall, associate dean of technical education, at 806-335-4309.