NTC News

Archive News Stories:
2009: July • August • September • October • November • December
2010: January • February • March • April • May

Northeast Technology Center Announces District Teacher of the Year and District Support Employee of the Year

Northeast Technology Center is proud to announce the 2009 winners of the NTC Teacher of the Year and NTC Support Employee of the Year awards. The NTC Teacher of the Year is Craig Cooper from the Pryor campus. The NTC Support Employee of the Year is Sue Wilcox also from the district’s Pryor campus. The awards were announced at the school’s district-wide in-service on the new Claremore campus on August 10th. The winners were first nominated by a fellow staff member. Then, their applications were submitted and reviewed by a selection committee, composed of one board member, one administrator, and one instructor from each of NTC’s campuses. NTC Teacher of the Year Craig Cooper is the Modern Industrial Technology instructor at Pryor. Craig is in his fourth year as a full-time instructor with NTC, and has taught for about 15 years including his previous teaching in evening courses. He resides in Adair with his Wife, Tobie, and their daughters Chancie and Chasee Jo. Before coming to NTC fulltime, Craig worked for the county and also has had his own welding and fabrication shop for the past 10 years in Adair. In addition to his full-time duties as the MIT instructor at NTC, Craig is the fire chief at Adair, which can keep him busy at all hours of the day when duty calls. When asked what he thought when his name was announced as the winner, Craig responded, “I was surprised. I hadn’t really considered that I would win it.” Over the last four years since Craig started teaching full-time at NTC, he and his students have worked hard to build the Modern Industrial Technology program from the ground up. Literally. “When I got here, we didn’t even have a welder. Myself and the students have pretty much built everything you see here in the shop. We built the welding booths, put the tin on the walls, built tables, the work bench, lockers, torch carts, you name it.” It was that effort and Craig’s dedication to his students that helped set him apart as the Teacher of the Year. Craig says that the most rewarding part of his job is, “seeing a kid that when you teach him something new, you see him grow and develop in a trade, and you get to see them go in a direction they might not have gone. That’s the biggest reward.” NTC Support Employee of the Year Sue Wilcox is the Academic Resource Center Assistant at Pryor. Sue is in her ninth year with Northeast Technology Center. She was born in Pryor and graduated high school in Checotah. Before coming to NTC, Sue worked in the Pryor schools as an aide in the library at Jefferson Elementary. She then worked as a certified pharmacy tech for eight years, followed by four years at the Mayes County Health Department. She then went back to Jefferson Elementary as a secretary for three years before coming to NTC. Sue also speaks Spanish, and has volunteered around the community in the past to help translate, helped with some translation while at the Health Department, and has also used this skill at times in her present position with NTC. When asked how she felt about receiving the award, Sue said, “I am just so honored. I work with such quality people, and I realize we’re a team. I feel very honored and humbled.” As the Academic Resource Center Assistant, Sue gets to personally know and work with all full time students on the campus. Students come to the ARC for their Key Train assessments and tutorials, work on portfolios, resumes, cover letters, as well as strengthening reading and comprehension skills, applied mathematics, and more. “I love it when I see a student start believing in themselves,” she said. “I really have the best job on campus. I get to know every student and I get paid to encourage them and watch them succeed.” Photo 1: Northeast Technology Center Teacher of the Year Craig Cooper accepts the award from NTC Superintendent Fred Probis. The award was presented at NTC’s district in-service at the new Claremore campus on August 10th. Craig is the Modern Industrial Technology Instructor at NTC’s Pryor campus. Photo 2: Northeast Technology Center Support Employee of the Sue Wilcox accepts the award from NTC Superintendent Fred Probis. The award was presented at NTC’s district in-service at the new Claremore campus on August 10th. Sue is the Academic Resource Center Assistant at NTC’s Pryor campus.

Students Learn How to Earn College Credit at NTC

Northeast Technology Center district campuses have hosted an event at each campus to inform Juniors, Seniors, and Adult students of an opportunity to earn “Tuition-Free College Credit” while attending NTC. Representatives from Rogers State University, NEO A&M College in Miami, and OSU-Okmulgee were on hand to answer questions, talk with students about the program, and co-enroll them so they can receive college credit for their studies at NTC.

The Cooperative Alliance Agreement enables a Northeast Technology Center student to receive college credit for their technical courses simultaneously while attending NTC in approved programs / career majors. The Cooperative Alliance Agreements are part of a commitment by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education to work together for the benefit of the Oklahoma students.

Colleges participating under the Alliance with NTC are NEO A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, and Rogers State University in Claremore. The number of college credit hours granted varies dependent upon college and technical program. This program is available at all four of NTC’s campuses: Afton, Claremore, Kansas, and Pryor.

College tuition is waived, but there will be an $8.00 per credit hour fee assessed for the college credit that will be granted by the participating college. It is the student’s responsibility to pay this fee to the college. This is a huge savings to the student/parent since college tuition is typically well in excess of $80.00 per credit hour. Likewise, high school students who qualify for an ACT Fee Waiver can have their co-enrollment fees waived if documentation is provided to NTC.

High school students must meet one of the following criteria while at NTC before earning college credit:
1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5; or
2. A composite score of 15 on the Plan Test taken during the sophomore year; or
3. A composite ACT score of 19.

This program is open to both adult students as well as high school students. For more information, visit www.netech.edu or contact Diane Hampton at (918) 257-8324 (918) 257-8324 .

Photo Caption: “Students at Northeast Technology Center’s campuses met with representatives from local colleges. Representatives from Rogers State University, NEO A&M College in Miami, and OSU-Okmulgee were on hand to co-enroll the students and help them earn their college credit."

NTC Afton Offers 5 Month Course for High Paying Jobs

Northeast Technology Center in Afton is excited to announce there are still a few slots remaining in its masonry program. Interested parties should call the campus right away to get in before the class is full. Full time students can complete the course in only 5 months, and be out in the workforce earning a high income.

Even in the current U.S. economy, masons and stoneworkers remain in high demand and have the potential for high paying jobs straight out of the program. The job outlook for Oklahoma is excellent, with projected growth of 19% for the total number of masons needed through 2016, while the U.S. likewise projects strong job growth of 10% in that same period.

The average income for masons in Oklahoma is $40,700, ranging up above $56,100. For the U.S. as a whole, the average income is $44,100, ranging up to over $70,400. With the increase in demand for these jobs, and the excellent pay, this full time 5 month training course is an outstanding opportunity and a great way to beat this economy and get ahead.

Adults taking the course full time can complete it in as little as 5 months. Tuition for the entire program is only $ 456, which is very little compared to the skills, training, and potential for high income that one receives upon completing the training. Half time sessions are also available, with both morning and afternoon sessions available to fit your schedule.

The course has a knowledgeable and experienced instructor, Terry Clarkson, who has worked in masonry for over 20 years. He brings expertise in brick, stone, and block masonry.

To enroll or for questions, please contact Northeast Technology Center’s Afton campus at (918) 257-8324 (918) 257-8324 . Dewayne Mead is available to answer questions on both enrollment and the program, while Lavonne Reavis can assist with financial aid questions.

Photo: NTC Afton student Kayne Vernon works diligently on a class project in the Masonry program at Northeast Technology Center’s Afton Campus. NTC Afton offers a full time program in Masonry that can be completed in 5 months, and gives graduates opportunities for in-demand jobs and high pay.

Northeast Technology Students Cook With Master Chefs

For an aspiring chef, the opportunity to work side by side with an experienced, master-chef in a gourmet kitchen is a dream come true. For two Northeast Technology seniors, that dream became a reality.

Hailie Hendrickson, a senior Culinary Arts student from NTC’s Pryor Campus, along with Michaela McMillan, a senior Culinary Arts student from NTC’s Afton campus, lived this dream last week in Tulsa, as they participated in the Oklahoma Restaurant Association’s annual event “Odyssey de Culinaire.” The event was held on Thursday evening, August 13th, at Tulsa’s Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. The students were accompanied by their Culinary Arts instructors, Karen Wilson (NTC Pryor) and Jenean Perryman (NTC Afton).

Odyssey de Culinaire is a fundraising and awareness dinner, held annually in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, to benefit the Hospitality Career Initiative of the Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation. For the Tulsa event, five master chefs from Oklahoma City prepared a gourmet meal for attendees, and for the Oklahoma City event, five master chefs from Tulsa did likewise for their attendees. Funds raised from the event are used to provide support to students, teachers and schools who are part of the Hospitality Career Initiative, including teacher training and development, materials and resources for student recruitment, assistance with job placement for internships, and graduate employment and industry-driven events for hospitality students.

The theme for the evening was “Kid’s Menu,” and each chef was challenged with the task of taking a childhood food item and converting that concept into a gourmet work of art. Each of the five chefs paired with one culinary student from a ProStart School in that half of the state. Northeast Technology Center was proud to have two of the five students that were invited to participate in the Tulsa event.

Hailie Hendrickson, a home-schooled senior from Claremore and NTC Pryor, teamed with Chef Ryan Parrot of Season’s Catering and Table One. Together, they created the dessert assortment for the evening, including “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup” - a warm chocolate cake with peanut butter semi-freddo; “Cherry Mash” - a chocolate ganache with white chocolate-cherry mallow; “Kit Kat” – a crunchy wafer, chopped peanuts, graham cracker, and chocolate; and “Almond Joy” – an almond infused ganache, with coconut sorbet and toasted almonds.

Michaela McMillan, a senior from Miami high school and NTC Afton, teamed with Chef Brad Evers of Gaillardia Country Club. Together they were charged with creating the Soup and Salad for the meal. They created a chilled tomato soup with lemongrass, ginger, and lime; a grilled gruyere sammy; and wild watercress Green Goddess salad.

After graduation, Hailie plans to attend OSU-Okmulgee to continue her studies in the Culinary Arts. Michaela plans to find a full time job in the food service industry while working her way through college.

Photo: “Two Culinary Arts students from Northeast Technology Center participated in “Odyssey de Culinaire” in Tulsa on August 13th. They were each paired with a master chef one-on-one to prepare a gourmet meal for attendees. Pictured (from L to R): Claremore senior Hailie Hendrickson (NTC Pryor), Culinary Arts instructor Karen Wilson (NTC Pryor), Miami senior Michaela McMillan (NTC Afton), and Culinary Arts instructor Jenean Perryman (NTC Afton).”

Classes begin at the Claremore Campus

Photo: “Campus Director Rick Reimer addresses students on the first day of classes at Northeast Technology Center in Claremore on Thursday, August 13th. This was the first day of full-time classes on the new campus, which began construction on North Highway 88 over 3 years ago. Five full time programs are offered at the campus, in addition to numerous part time and evening courses.”