News-Graphic, Georgetown, June 20, 2008

 

Having multiple options
Program teaches graduates leadership, teamwork
By JEFF KERR

Another chance, another choice.

A dozen 2008 Scott County High School graduates are enrolled in a two-week program that is teaching them skills they can use if they seek jobs in the manufacturing sector.

Well, a dozen started.

One dropped out after the first day, and another didn’t show up on Thursday, the fourth day. But the 10 who are sticking with it will receive a $250 gift card after Friday’s session and then will spend next week learning about what they could gain from going to college.

“It gives kids who are unsure or uncertain an opportunity to learn about manufacturing and to see if they want to go into a community college,” said Gene Childress, student assistant coordinator of the Scott County schools, who is spearheading the program.

The manufacturing boot camp, which is its informal name, is designed to help the students “better understand the workplace and the skills they need for it,” Childress said.

The first week is divided into five different themes, he said.

 

"The first day was about teamwork skills, values and behavior," Childress said.  "What a lot of people don't know is that most people lost jobs because of their inability to get along with other people."

 

The second day, he said, was devoted to problem-solving skills.  The third day included scheduling skills and multi-tasking and "a lot of general subjects," Childress said.

 

The fourth day, Thursday, was when the students really got down to business.

 

"We have an assembly line process where they assemble little cars," he said.  "What they try to do is to learn the process.  When we start out, it takes $100 a car to assemble, and by the end of the day, we hope to get down to $3 or $4 a car."

 

Friday, Childress said, is final exam day.

 

"It's a teamwork thing," he said.  "We put two to three people on a team and they have to assemble a robot from a kit and then learn to program it through a maze.  Some can do it great and some never get it to work."

 

The second week of the program is called the "college jump start" and is "all about going to school," said Francis O'Hara, the principal of the new career technical and performing arts school.

 

"A lot of these kids never even think they could go to college but they qualify for academic scholarships," he said.  "They'll take the Compass entry exam, which is like the ACT, and they'll learn about scheduling and advisors."

 

The students said the week has been good for them.

 

"I've learned a lot of stuff," Adam Boykin said.

 

"Devon Brinegar agreed.

 

"I've learned a lot, especially about leadership and teamwork," Brinegar said.

 

O'Hara said the program could make a difference in a student's life.

 

"We've got one here who's basically been homeless for the past couple of years," he said.  "He's been bouncing back and forth from one friend's home to another.  But he's a very smart kid.  And we know now that intelligence is not based on a college degree, it's based on desire and that kid is going to succeed."

 

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