For many high school students, their future is clear. Social media feeds are full of seniors excitedly sharing the traditional four-year college they’ve been accepted to and plan to attend in the fall. But that track isn’t for everyone, and schools like Marchman Technical College are offering a different path to a successful and fulfilling career.
Fred K. Marchman Technical College opened in 1984 with a mission to provide student-centered learning targeted to the workforce needs of today. They offer 13 career certificate programs in a wide range of trades essential to the community—from Cybersecurity, Computer ystems, and Information Technology to Electricity, Welding and HVAC/R as well as Cosmetology, Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality and many more. “We work very closely with the Economic Development Council, so we’re looking closely at what jobs are needed in Pasco County and surrounding areas, and that’s what drives the programs offered,” shared Tonia Shook, Director of Fred K. Marchman Technical College.
Each program is crafted to ensure students leave prepared to enter the workforce, complete with certifications tied to that career path. “Every program has an advisory board. We meet with business partners who are professionals in that industry at least once a year, so they can give us feedback on our curriculum and equipment, and let us know what students are lacking so we can stay up to date with industry,” explained Shook. Several programs are targeted to be completed in one 36-week academic school year. “It’s a career in a year,” added Shook.
The programs are targeted at adults ready to jump into the workforce. “I’d say the average age for our students is 25, but we have those coming right after high school. We have those who are second career. We have a lot of veterans. It’s always someone who’s passionate about entering the workforce in this specific program,” shared Shook.
In addition to the adults who attend Marchman, they also offer most programs to high school juniors and seniors in Pasco County through the dual enrollment program. Students at Wendell Krinn Technical High School next door have the opportunity to start as a freshman with one class period per day in ninth and tenth grades, shifting to the dual enrollment program as a junior. “If they go off to a four-year university and need to work part time, here’s something they can do and utilize those skills and make more than minimum wage,” said Shook.
There’s no question that the opportunities Marchman offers are changing lives for the better. One of last year’s graduates is a great example. “He came from a background of being homeless. He had lots of ups and downs in his life, and became a parent to two young boys. Those two boys gave him the motivation to get his GED. Then he came back and got his career certificate in Applied Cybersecurity,” shared Shook.
Encouraging education in the trades isn’t just beneficial to the students looking for that path – it’s essential to our community. “We need it. We have to have somebody who fixes our car. We have to have somebody who fixes our AC. I don’t know how to do that. It’s essential to the way our society is built, and there are those who want to do that, who are passionate about it, and really good at it,” explained Shook.
For those ready to jump into a career in a trade, Marchman is ready for them. Offering a lucrative career while adding essential services to our community. It’s those people who are truly trading up.