When students attend the New Castle Career Center, they aren’t just prepared for the workforce. They are prepared to serve as active, helpful members of the community. This is the intention behind offering certifications like CPR, Stop-The-Bleed, and Employability Skills.
Don Showalter, Criminal Justice Instructor, teaches the Stop-the-Bleed course for students and staff. He has already trained the Criminal Justice, EMT, Fire and Rescue, and Health Sciences classes. He has plans to conduct the training with Graphic Design, Machine Trades, and the Computer Operations classes.
“These skills are a must for everyone to learn so that they can help loved ones, neighbors, friends, and the general public,” he shared.
Naturally, students from the Health Science Education (HSE) program receive extensive certifications, and many of these are required for their clinical experiences. Angie Talbott, Health Science Instructor, sees the benefit of these life-saving skills, even beyond the clinical setting.
“All HSE I students are CPR and AED-certified in their first year and understand the importance of these basic life support skills,” Talbott explained. “In their second year, students complete clinical rotations in the ER, and Stop the Bleed certification comes in handy.”
Fire/Rescue Instructor Tim Welch notices that students reference previous trainings several times during class and that during scenarios, they use the skills and techniques commonly. “Having the knowledge and skill set to perform lifesaving tasks will serve them well even if they choose not to pursue a career in public safety. You really never know when someone will need help, either at home or out and about their community,” he noted.
Graphic Design Instructor Jessika Feltz echoes this community-minded emphasis: “At the Career Center, we not only aim to create well-educated professionals, we also want to create well-rounded citizens. Obtaining these certifications will help students with their confidence and organizational skills; it takes courage to step up in an emergency, and we want to give our students the tools to make a difference. Students want to contribute to society, and these are tools that we can easily give them.”
Feltz partnered with Computer Operations Instructor Darrell Shawl to also provide students with employability skills training. This training, offered through Ivy Tech Muncie, re-emphasizes “soft skills” that students are learning at the Career Center.
“The students seemed to really enjoy the training as there were several activities that taught them about active listening,” Shawl said. “The students gained knowledge on how to be better listeners at school, work, and in general. They will also learn other employability skills that will help them when they go into the workforce after high school.”
For more information about the New Castle Career Center and the programs offered, visit nccareercenter.org.