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DENISON, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Some high schoolers in western Iowa are getting new opportunities to pursue their career, thanks to a new facility.
Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) hosted a ribbon-cutting event Monday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of their Denison Career Academy.
The academy serves five school districts in the Denison area—Denison, Boyer Valley, Maple Valley Anthon Oto-Charter Oak Ute (MVAOCOU), Odebolt Arthur-Battle Creek Ida Grove (OABCIG), and Woodbine.
Western Iowa Tech President Dr. Terry Murrell said the academy was designed to benefit the area.
“It’s a great facility to really make sure that we are able to meet the workforce needs of the Denison community,” said Dr. Murrell.
Autobody, agriculture, nursing, business, and education are the five new programs being offered. The auto body program’s previous building was outdated—so much so that one instructor remembers it well.
“We were in the old armory building down the street, and it had been there for the previous 35-plus years. And that’s actually where I took these same classes,” said autobody instructor Darren Bruck. “The new state-of-the-art facility is great. It was pretty awesome to see the kids’ faces, the new tools, the new paint booth, the new toys that we have here in class. New welders, stuff like that.”
And Dr. Murrell said Western Iowa Tech officials are looking forward to welcoming students from a new area.
“It’s really exciting, because I think that we’ve had a Career Academy in the Sioux City area, but this allows a Career Academy for some of our more rural districts,” said Dr. Murrell.
Students have already been taking part in classes at the new Career Academy, giving them hands-on experience for their future careers.