By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Promoting a program that is free to those enrolled, Pioneer Career and Technology Center Adult Education hosted an open house for its Adult Diploma Program Wednesday at the Crawford Success Center.
The open house allowed staff and teachers to meet with potential students seeking their high school diploma. The program offers two pathways to a degree in two programs for those 22 and older that are seven credits shy of the diploma, as well as a state issued adult diploma with no minimum amount of credits left. The two courses offered are State Tested Nurses Aide (STNA) and welding.
Pioneer Job Leads Coordinator Katie Crall spoke about the program.
“We are the only school in the area that offers the adult diploma program, not a GED, but an actual diploma. We have classes at Pioneer for students out that way, as well as Bucyrus and Wynford. Even though it is hosted by Pioneer it is partnered with the schools at no cost to the students.
“The STNA program is 87 hours long and includes first aid and CPR certification, while the welding course is 150 hours long and includes AWS certification. These two courses were chosen because they are the most needed in the area.”
Pioneer Financial Aid Coordinator Tina Snyder, who also works in Adult Diploma Program Recruitment, gave a short history of the program.
“Since the first part of August we have been recruiting for the program, and we had a lot of interest at first, people heard about it different ways, and we got our first classes started in September and we are going to graduate 18 in December, so we are really excited,” Snyder said.
Snyder added that her favorite part of the program is the stories from the families.
“It has been fun and great seeing the successes from the families. I guess the stories from the families are my favorite part of the program because it shows that we aren’t just affecting the lives of just one person, but we are affecting their whole families,” Snyder said.
“We have people from Crawford, Knox, Marion, Richland and Ashland counties attending the program. We have a brother, sister, and cousin that are traveling from Ashland County to attend our program,” Snyder added. “It is kind of a neat dynamic seeing the different groups of family members.”
Picking up a packet for a friend who is interested in the program, Zack Newmeyer is one of the upcoming graduates from the program. Newmeyer, who will be graduating with his diploma focused on the welding program, explained his experiences as a student within the program.
“They are really well with working with us hands on. Like (if) you have a question they are pretty on it about answering. If you are confused or anything, they are good with helping. I didn’t know if I was going to make it, I really didn’t, and the way that they have helped us, it is just awesome. It really is,” Newmeyer said.
Newmeyer noted why he took the program.
“This was my last chance to get my diploma, and if it wasn’t this then I was going to have to get my GED, and I wasn’t looking forward to it,” Newmeyer said. “I wanted to get my diploma so I wouldn’t have to explain to my son what the difference was between mom and dad.”
Newmeyer explained his favorite aspect of the program has been the teachers.
“They are awesome, it would be cool to be friends when I get out of the program.”
Newmeyer explained his hopes after he graduates from the program.
“I am looking to go somewhere. I want to weld, but if I can’t I will take the diploma and a better paying job, than not,” Newmeyer said.
Adult Education Supervisor Martin Dzugan explained why the school was hosting an open house for the program.
“We feel we really need to get the word out, we would like to see more people involved,” Dzugan said.
Currently, the Adult Diploma Program through Pioneer is registering for January classes with classes beginning at Pioneer on January 10 and Bucyrus and Wynford on January 17.
For more information contact Tina Snyder at 419-347-774 ext. 42305, or Joe Bridenbaugh at 419-545-0188, or visit Pioneer’s website at www.go2pioneer.com.
The next open house for the Adult Diploma Program through Pioneer at the Crawford Success Center will take place at 1 and 4 p.m. on November 30.