MdCV senior gains hands-on experience
Building a career at FHTC
February 28, 2008
Ron Reece, an MdCV senior, is currently enrolled in Construction Technology at the Flint Hills Technical College. Since the beginning of the 2007-08 school year, he and his FHTC classmates have been involved in building a house from basement to roof -- and everything in between -- on a residential lot near the campus of FHTC in Emporia.
Approximately 20 students are enrolled in the class, where Ron has made good use of the basic tools of the trade, the old reliable hammer and nails. But he has also used a Wacker Packer, which is a heavy duty piece of construction equipment for compacting dirt around the foundation of the home. According to Ron, one of the more difficult tasks he has learned to do is determine the pitch and slope of a roof.
Ron attends half days at FHTC, which allows him the opportunity to finish his required courses at MdCV during the second half of the day. His day begins with a drive to Emporia, leaving around 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m., depending on whether or not he carpools with a rider from Lyndon. Upon graduation, Ron will receive 8 credit hours for his training, which is half of the regular 16 hours earned at the end of two semesters. When he is not on the construction site, Ron has traditional question-and-answer assignments to complete from the textbook.
Construction Technology is a two-year program at Flint Hills Technical College. Ron first learned about the class when he attended a FoCUS Program during his junior year. The object of FoCUS is to promote the idea of "Creating Unlimited Success in career exploration through opportunities in technical education." His teachers are Bill Hanlon and Larry Green. According to the FHTC website, Hanlon has also participated as a member of a team to assist in rebuilding tornado-damaged Greensburg, Kansas.
In January, Ron began building cabinets in the house. From there, the work will proceed to finishing the outside with siding and the floors inside with wood, carpet and trim. Once the house is completed, it will be sold. But before that occurs, Ron and his family -- along with other members involved in the project -- will be invited to view and inspect the completed project and share a congratulatory meal together.
FHTC encourages prospective students to schedule a visit to tour the campus and explore the possible career opportunities, which also includes the flexibility of some classes offered via the Internet. In addition to Construction Technology, career programs offered at FHTC include: automotive technology, dental assisting, paramedic training, practical nursing, power plant technology, hospitality/culinary arts, graphic art technology, computer program design and development, business administrative technology, health occupation technology, industrial engineering technology, machine tool technology, and network technology.
Beginning in May 2008, the Jones Foundation will offer a $1,000 tuition voucher program ($500 per semester) for high school graduates from Osage, Lyon, and Coffey counties, to help with meeting the financial costs of attending either FHTC or Emporia State University.
Because Ron is concurrently enrolled at MdCV High School and FHTC, the local school district paid his tuition to attend tech school this year. However, he was responsible for his own transportation, any college fees, textbooks, tools or supplies that he needed for class.
