Visit Day Brings Area Middle Schoolers to Campus

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
4/11/2024

Students at Iowa Central Community College may have had the day off from classes on Thursday April 11, but campus was busy with activity as students from area middle schools gathered to explore various careers and areas of study offered at Iowa Central.

Students from Clarion Goldfield Dows, Greene County, Humboldt, Newell-Fonda, Paton-Churdan and South Central Calhoun spent the day on campus participating in hands-on classroom activities while getting a feel for a day in the life of an Iowa Central student.

Students divided into groups and attended classroom sessions throughout the day in more than 20 career fields. Each group met with instructors, had question and answer sessions and the chance to try out some of the skills in each career field.

In the Robotics session, students learned about the various careers that can be pursued with a robotics degree, saw demonstrations on robotic equipment, and met Zeus, Iowa Central’s robotic dog, who performed a few tricks for them.

In Computer Networking Technology, students heard from instructors Andrew Thompson and Casey Iles about the IT, security and networking fields and the good jobs available for graduates with two-year degrees. They then programmed their own simulated networks on some of the same programs CNT students learn from every day.

A favorite stop of the day, the KICB studios for a session on Digital Media Production, students had the opportunity to go live on the air between songs as TV and Radio Production Coordinator Nikki Rasmussen interviewed each of them and they answered trivia questions. They also recorded podcasts with Digital Media Instructor Michelle Tjaden, which proved to be a hit as the students learned that it could become a career.

“They’ve been very open and creative in their podcasts,” said Tjaden. “They’ve asked a lot of great questions what they can pursue and the courses they can take.”

Abbie Mushika, Rhemy Adams, Kaydence Knerl and Lilly Adams, eighth graders at
South Central Calhoun Middle School, recorded a podcast to be shared with their school, talking about sports and their interests outside of school.

When the four students wrapped up their podcast to take their turn in the radio station, they were excited for all the possibilities of a career in media.

“That was so much fun, now I really want to come here for media,” said Mushika.

“I wish we could come every day for that,” said Knerl.

I knew you could make it a career, but I didn’t know just how much fun it could be,” said Lilly Adams.

After visiting each department, students toured campus and had lunch in the Career Education Building.