Telegraph photos by ADAM URQUHART Rotary Club of Nashua West members on Tuesday tour a manufacturing classroom at Nashua High School South.

NASHUA – Rotary Club of Nashua West members took a field trip of sorts on Tuesday when they explored the career and technical education programs offered at Nashua High School South.

“Nowadays, with college debt being what it is, I think kids and parents need to understand the great programs we have here,” Nashua High School South CTE Director Mike McQuilkin said.

After enjoying a taco lunch prepared by students, club members separated into groups to take brief tours of the school’s CTE classrooms.

Students involved in CTE programs led club members through a manufacturing classroom and HVAC classroom. They also checked out an onsite preschool, as club members saw students involved in this CTE program.

Meanwhile, the students involved in these programs are receiving more than just real experience, as they are also earning college credits and working toward certificates. In many ways, these students are actually getting ahead of their competition, as they will save money because they will be graduating high school with college credits already under their belt.

The same advantage applies for those who also immediately enter the workforce, because they will either have a certificate or training in whatever field they focused their studies. McQuilkin said the students involved in these programs definitely stand out among their peers. South has 500 or more students that are participating in them, which is more than 25% of the approximately 2,000 students attending the school.

“When you’re in Nashua, if you’re a CTE student, you stand out,” McQuilkin said. “You stand out because of these opportunities that you have.”

There are more than 100 college credits available through taking these CTE programs. The credits are applicable at Nashua Community College, Manchester Community College, NHTI, Great Bay Community College and Keene State College. McQuilkin said they have an articulation agreement with Keene State College, meaning if a student completes two years of a program at the high school and earns a grade of “B” or better, they will receive eight credits if they end up deciding to attend Keene State College. That also saves students and their families from having to pay to earn those credits at the college level.

Among Nashua High Schools North and South, there are 18 CTE programs offered, and students can travel from school to school to participate in the sessions.

McQuilkin said most programs are now offered to students starting in 10th grade, adding that these fields used to be open to juniors and seniors only.

Moving forward, students will have specific skills related to their field, the opportunity to get credentials and certificates and might even have part-time jobs or internships through their hard work in these programs.

For McQuilkin, part of the goal is to break down the stigma some associate with CTE programs. These courses are not exactly the picture painted in the minds of some who envision the old school vocational tech kind of classes, he said. McQuilkin said a student can be in construction tech and still go to college. So, in conducting tours such as Tuesday’s, the school is educating people on what CTE is and can lead to, while also showcasing why these CTE students in Nashua are exceptional.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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