Traditionally, many students are encouraged to pursue college and majors that require some more education after college, such as business skills, or sciences. Now, with the Indiana high school diploma that gets students ready for skilled trade jobs right out of high school, these classes are becoming more popular. According to Sid Swartzendruber, Department Chair of engineering and tech, with this change more students are recognizing that college is not the only choice. 

“We have a strong base of students that will be ready to work after high school and be highly employable. Many students previously perceived to be “college bound” are now learning that it’s ok to want to learn skills, start working sooner, and possibly own a business someday,” Swartzendruber said . 

This school is embracing this change with new technology and recently built areas specifically for these classes, such as the new car bays for automotives. 

“Our newly added and renovated spaces (manufacturing, construction, automotive, and engineering) allow students to use cutting edge technology paired with traditional practices to learn each trade through hands-on experiences,” Swartzendruber said. “The exposure we provide won’t make them experts, but will give them the confidence to apply, interview, and earn positions where they can become experts in time.” 

Additionally, this school has multiple programs for these careers, such as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Tabitha Hughes, capital projects manager, says that outside of coursework, this school gives out internships to students in the engineering and tech pathways. 

“The district partners with local industry professionals and organizations through work-based learning internships to help students understand the many opportunities available in the trades,” Hughes said. 

Assistant principal Brad Sever further explains how these internships help prepare students for life after high school. 

“Through these placements, students have secured paid internships with companies in those industries,” Sever said. “These experiences allow students to build their resumes, strengthen college applications, and in some cases transition directly into employment after graduation.”

From a student perspective, junior Brady Reiter says that these classes have been invaluable to him because it has helped him figure out what he is interested in and what he’s not. 

“They helped me to see the topics that I don’t like as well as the topics that I think are interesting. For example I don’t like trusses but I like beams,” Reiter said. 

On top of that, Reiter said these classes have also been able to teach him good skills he can use in these fields. 

“I have learned how to calculate many different calculations. Like beams and trusses. As well as force diagrams or movement calculations.” 

As Indiana pushes for high school students to be ready for the workforce right after they graduate, classes that prepare students the best such as construction and automotives are becoming more popular and more important to students. Thus, this school is putting more into these classes than ever before to make them even better for the students interested in this pathway.