Summer Payoff
Many San Antonio-area high school students are working to meet the needs of future employers by engaging in coursework that teaches more than just job skills.
“The need for entry-level skilled workers with the willingness to learn, the capability to work as a team with discipline is huge in our nation right now,” says Gene Bowman, the Academy’s director. “Learning is a lifetime event. You never stop learning.”
A collaboration among the Alamo Community College District, civic leaders, local school districts and local aerospace, information technology and manufacturing companies, the academy graduated its first students in 2002. More than 360 students have completed their course work at one of the three campuses. A fourth academy opened last year in the nearby New Braunfels / Seguin area. The academy will expand to five campuses in 2008 with the addition of a new ITSA program at the New Braunfels site.
The Alamo Academies started an aerospace program in 2001, then added programs in information technology and security (ITSA) in 2002 and manufacturing technology in 2004.
Eligible students come from all of the independent school districts in San Antonio, area private schools and home school programs. The school districts provide transportation to and from a student’s home campus.
Once on campus, whether the coursework is aerospace, manufacturing or IT, it’s applying what they are learning that makes the difference, Bowman says.
The hands-on approach is one of the highlights for Eric De La Rosa, a senior interested in manufacturing, robotics and welding in the Manufacturing Technology Academy.
“Both aspects of the program, class work and shop time, are exciting and informative,” says De La Rosa. “What interests me is that most of the tasks that we perform are hands-on. There’s a bit of book work, but that’s for your safety and knowledge in the shop.”
The majority of academy graduates continue their higher education through either two- or four-year programs. Many continue to work and go to college at the same time with the employer paying for their college courses, what Bowman calls a win-win situation for the academy graduates and industry partners.
More than 98 percent of academy graduates have gone on to continue their higher education, work in the aerospace, IT or manufacturing industries or join the military. For those who join the work force, an average starting salary and benefits package of $27,730 – better than $10 an hour – awaits.
Academy graduates take with them not only their job skills, but also an understanding of commitment, teamwork and dedication.
De La Rosa expects his experience there to give him a head start on the employment trail. “I will take with me the basic understanding of the importance of one’s profession and the dedication and time it takes to complete a task successfully,” he says.
The Texas Education Agency provides information on career and technology education programs at www.tea.state.tx.us/cte
Summer PayoffThe Alamo academies and several San Antonio-area industry partners offer eight-week, 40-hour-per-week paid internships to academy students. Students can earn more than $2,500 for the summer, and sponsoring companies have hired several students following graduation. Partnering companies include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Rackspace and Texas Composites.