Area 30 invites all students to annual College Fair

Friday, September 11, 2015

Area 30 Career Center will be hosting a College Fair for students in the Putnam County area Sept. 21 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Dixie Chopper Conference Center.

Area 30 Director Lora Busch informed the board of directors during the regular meeting Tuesday the event is open to any student seeking information about future educational opportunities. She noted the College Fair is also open to students in Montgomery and Hendricks county schools as well.

The event will feature more than 40 college representatives with information about admissions, programs, financial aid, scholarships and student life.

Colleges to be represented will include Ivy Tech, DePauw University, Ball State University, Lincoln College of Technology, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and more.

Busch added community support is being sought for the upcoming Scholarship Fund Golf Scramble, set for Sept. 26 at Clover Meadows in Cloverdale starting at 8 a.m. Event and hole sponsors are needed.

Teams are also needed to participate in the event, with a four-person team sign-up at $200. There will be prizes and giveaways during the event, with a $10,000 hole-in-one prize.

Busch said the event helps fund scholarships given to students each year. Last year, Area 30 was able to give $10,000 in scholarships.

For more information, persons may contact Zane Earles at 653-3515 or by email at zearles@area30.k12.in.us.

Meanwhile, the board approved a partnership with the City of Greencastle and Department of Workforce Development to seek an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant to assist with the purchase of CNC (computer numerical controlled) machinery.

Busch said area businesses have expressed a need for CNC operators, and this grant would help to purchase a tabletop CNC simulator and up to two full-size machines. The program will initially be open to adults as an evening course.

"After the year of the grant, student fees would pay for the cost of the salary," Busch explained, noting there would be no additional cost to Area 30 or the schools it serves.

While the program will initially be geared toward adult education, it could eventually become available to students as it matures. Busch noted the welding program started in a similar fashion, initially started for adult education and is now available to students.

"There are a ton of jobs in CNC programming and (businesses) are asking for our help," Busch stressed.

In other business, the board:

* Approved Adult Numeracy Initiative (ANI) use of the Area 30 Career Center Community Room on three occasions to assist adult education teachers' mathematical understanding.

* Approved a grant application to Endeavor Rural Service Grant up to $5,000 for the Super Mileage Club and to the Indiana Department of Education to purchase equipment and supplies for the Construction Operator's program.

* Approved staff member participation in the National ACTE conference in New Orleans Nov. 19-22. Participation is funded as part of the professional development activities in the Carl D. Perkins grant.

* Approved the resignation of Dakota Evans. Busch said Evans was a former student who began working for the Area 30 office after graduation. He is leaving to join the Marine Corps.

"He is the best student and employee I've ever had," Busch said.

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