2004

~Vo- Tech program changes with times .

we'rc seemg a II that change and those jobs g(.)ing to Mexico or overseas so we have to change w1th 1t," he sa1d. "There will be a lll'l' llll; al'iO 11\COI" p111.atnl 111111 the \.UIII~;ulum, aceordmg to llwuko; "We ollcr a variety of club activities and many of them often travel across the country to national competitions," she said. "We know that a student can't just leave with a skill, they have to leave with a good work ethic and an overall well-rounded education. 1 think: the environment here at the center is conducive to that and when these students leave', they've had the> opportunity to gain a lot of first-hand– knowledge about their future career." -(

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BY KELLY 8. SMITH East Mt~si~~'l'l''l~tNIII'S. ~ fnttmal Pllll ADI LPIIIA ll 1!~h sdmul ''" dent!. prepar ing to enter the rap1dly d~anr ing global worl...forcc arc gctt1ng thcu tminmr from a vancty of non trad111onal sources thesl: day~>, includi ng the Vocatronal- rechnical centers found across the state. The Phtladelphia-Ncshoba County Vocational-Technical Center, a division of Fast Central Community College, i~> no cxccp11011, hndmg rts mrss1on I'> bccommg mcrcasmgly rrnportant as the Will kplan· and the st.1te'~> cnnHIIIIY nuhn The Center , whrd1 IIJll"llnl 111 I 'J!f\, recently held an open htlll'e 111 111dl'r 111 emP.has11c th.11 mls'>mn .md ~·dut .111" llu public on 11s wurk w1th ..ludt·uh. h11lh 11 .1 dltlonal

tcchnulugy ,1ppll calion and cluth mg. llrgh school students 111 nmth through 12th grades may partic– ipate. Enrollment ranges from 200 to 27S 'otudcnts l'ill h Yl';ll \ h ol I II II

''When we opened more than 20 years ago, (the sewing program) was a natural fit with the booming textile industry; but now, we're see– ing that all change ... We have to change with it."

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ROBFRT MURPHY,

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J'ICI)'I tllll 111 1111 help . t "' fitwkut!l 1111~1110 .:•flhc~ ia'}roh l'·'•lla H tklllll lit ililruph: f;I~\IJi ill ly ju•s c_tl'Wnt li Ju flllt lll.l~i i11g ol 1,111 j .~illl , "\\lr 1t.av1· .tudrut' whu tlunl thl·y ought WHtlt tu gil 1111o the health core held hut .uc un'>urc what area, so they get a Wide lilnge or exposure Ill the Alhed pro– ~·ram, ollowmg them to make an informed dcci.,ton about their career," Brooks said. The w1dc range of pro&rrams would not be possrblc w1thout the support and input from area mdustries, according to Murphy. These partnerships have benefitted the center both in resources and an effective

\ I II t II >IIIIII•' the~ f! lltclt:lll I • l 'C IIIII)' II II IIIIH I IIJI ICI doll l' ll11111ill~' JIII..Sihil 1111 t"IJ111pll11.: 111 olllll,dly IUIIIIII Ill the WOI 1-. pl.11.:c 'I hut cvuluat1on of programmmg is found nowhere more evident than in the sewing, or clothing program. Designed when the textile industry was the heart of Mississippi's manufacturing sector, Murphy said officials will rethink its need at the center. "When we opened more than 20 years ago, this was a natural fit with what was booming in the textile industry, but now

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