Courtesy of CTE Peter Murr, CTE Welding and Manufacturing instructor, works with a visiting student on a virtual reality (VR) welding training simulator.

The CCISD Career Tech Center welcomed Copper Country students this week to learn more about their programs and career pathways.

To kick off CTE month, local high school sophomores have been invited to explore opportunities for hands-on, minds-on learning in high-tech labs that can lead to skill development while earning high school and potentially college credit.

“By creating possibilities for students to see and explore, and develop their skills, we believe we’re going to help create and provide students the opportunity to achieve their full potential,” said Corey Soumis, Copper Country Intermediate School District’s Director of Career and Technical Education. “Not only is the CCISD doing this through our CTE programs, but so are the numerous local industry partners who serve on our CTE program advisory committees to help guide our programming and are dedicated to helping offer students in our local communities valuable CTE-related opportunities.”

The CCISD provides students in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties with several CTE programs, including welding, automotive, construction, mechatronics, health careers, CNA, business, education and graphic arts.

During this week and into next, more than 400 students will spend a day at the Career Tech Center in Hancock as well as at CTE programs operated at Baraga and L’Anse high schools and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa and Gogebic community colleges to learn about options and explore.

Courtesy of CTE A group of area high-school sophomores attend an open house at the CCISD Career Tech Center in Hancock this week.

“We are dedicated to helping students see their way to meaningful careers or postsecondary learning opportunities, while at the same time helping our communities,” Soumis said. “CTE helps students gain valuable skills while still in high school and to have learning experiences that can help them decide what career they may want to pursue, or not, for that matter.”

Courtesy of CTE Certified Nurse Aide/Health Careers instructor Lorie Maki talks with visiting sophomores during a CTE open house this week.