Chris Foltz, a chef instructor at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, carves a pelican from ice outside the Oregon Capitol on Feb. 1. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
With a drone, virtual welding simulations and responsive CPR dummies, Oregon’s 17 community colleges brought some hands-on learning to the Oregon Capitol Friday.
The day has been two years in the making, said Johnny Mack, executive dean of career and technical education at Chemeketa Community College.
Students and instructors from every college in the state showed off programs in winemaking, massage therapy and manufacturing
“You don’t necessarily need a four-year degree in order to make, $70,000, 80,000, 100,000 a year,” Mack said. “We are able to take high school students and adults that are looking for a new career and get them back in the workforce.”
John Diaz practices painting a car in a virtual simulation used in the Portland Community College auto collision repair program. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Tony Yorba, a paint instructor at Portland Community College, shows John Diaz how he performed in a car painting simulation. Red areas show defects in paint, while blue areas have too little paint cover. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Tricia Barrett, a second year student in Chemeketa’s manufacturing technology program, holds a level made in class. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Chris Foltz, a chef instructor at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, carves a pelican from ice outside the Oregon Capitol. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Chris Foltz, a chef instructor at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, carves a pelican from ice outside the Oregon Capitol on Feb. 1. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Chris Baughman, the director of Central Oregon Community College’s manufacturing technology program, works on a welding simulator he uses with students. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Justin Blazzard, an instructor in Treasure Valley Community College’s manufacturing technology program, explains how he trains students on manufacturing and electrical controls. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Jackie Franke, a Chemeketa Community College board of education member, grabs a loaf of foccacia from the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Massage therapy student Alexa Root works on Geoff Snook. Root is in her fifth term of the program at Lane Community College. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Reporter Rachel Alexander: (503) 575-1241 or [email protected]
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
