The Voice Photo by C. Colt Crane
Cassia Regional Technical Center instructor Tim Campbell speaks with a group of students at the Tech Center’s open house.
By C. COLT CRANE
The Voice
BURLEY – The Cassia Regional Technical Center hosted an open house Thursday, February 9, 2012. The Tech Center opened its doors to the public in order to let the community know what the facility has to offer.
“Our goal is to give skills to students that they need,” said Bill Atkins, Director of Cassia Regional Technical Center.
The center offers high school students a plethora of programs to participate in which can allow them to earn college credit by registering for the credit and paying the appropriate tuition costs. The cost of such benefits is substantially less than regular college tuition.
High School students from the Mini-Cassia area are enrolled in the programs offered at the Tech Center.
“We have kids from Raft River, Declo, Oakley, Burley, Cassia, and Valley High Schools, as well as some home schooled students,” said Atkins.
According to Atkins, the students who gain skills by participating at the Tech Center have a 10% better chance of going to college.
“We want to help high school students get a leg up,” said Atkins in talking about college attendance.
With roughly 400 students on average for attendance, the Tech Center has a fairly high rate of students going on to post-secondary educational goals.
The Cassia Regional Technical Center offers nine different programs at their facility. The courses available are Automated Manufacturing Technology, Automotive Service Technology, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Electronics Technology, Emergency Medical Technician, Graphic Communications Technology, Health Professions, Information Technology, and Residential Construction Technology.
The facility’s programs offer industry certification that will qualify students for employment after high school graduation. These certifications provide students with immediate employment in many instances.
The Cassia Regional Technical Center is located at 1143 West 16th street in Burley, Idaho and can be reached by calling their offices at (208) 878-6610.
