Through a partnership with all four Clinton County high schools, Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative (WCCC) provides students with pathways to success after graduation, offering 23 programs of study that prepare them for post-secondary education or the workforce. Many of these programs allow students to earn dual college credits, industry-recognized credentials, and valuable work-based learning experiences. “As students work through their high school coursework, they are also being provided opportunities to earn Dual Credit in many programs,” shared Georgia Everett, Director of Career & Technical Education for Wildcat Creek. “Some programs also offer industry recognized credentials and work-based learning experience.”
This year, WCCC is also preparing to launch LEARN Academy, an exciting new initiative in partnership with Ivy Tech and IN-MaC. Students in the Industrial Maintenance/Electrical pathway will split their time between classroom instruction and hands-on experience with industry partners such as PepsiCo, Covestro, Tenneco, and NHK Seating. “We hope to continue building out this model for other pathways to give more students opportunities to get into industry sooner,” Everett shared. Programs like LEARN Academy, alongside WCCC events such as the Reverse Job Fair and Career Readiness Workshops, help connect students directly to employers and real-world career opportunities.
Partnerships between WCCC and local high schools like FHS continue to grow, especially in the area of Work-Based Learning (WBL), where participation has tripled in just two years. Everett emphasized the impact these programs have: “What I love about what we offer through WCCC is that students have the opportunity to try something out and decide if it is the right field for them.” Thanks to the collaboration between schools, businesses, and the community, WCCC is helping students build employability skills, explore career interests, and prepare for bright futures right here in Clinton County.
