OCCC and School District to Showcase Career Tech Programs at CTE Day, Feb. 13

February is ‘CTE Month’ in Oregon

To encourage participation in and support for Career and Technical Education (CTE), Oregon Coast Community College and the Lincoln County School District will showcase the opportunities available through their programs on Tuesday, February 13, at the OCCC Central County Campus in Newport.

Community members are invited to experience the expo from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 400 SE College Way. There will be displays featuring student projects and art pieces, demonstrations, items for sale, and information about CTE opportunities available throughout Lincoln County.

Participating Lincoln County School District programs include Forestry and Forest Products, Manufacturing, Architecture and Construction, Restaurant, Food & Beverage Service, Early Childhood Education, Digital Arts, Photography/Portfolio, Visual Communication, and Health Occupations. Siletz Valley School’s Woodshop and Culinary programs will also be attending.

Featured OCCC programs will include Nursing and Allied Health, Welding, Pre-Apprenticeship for Construction Trades, Early Childhood Education, Aquarium Science, and the Youth Entrepreneurship Program.

“The wide array of CTE programs being offered locally helps to meet both student and industry demand,” said Becky York, OCCC Career Connected Learning Navigator. “As educational institutions, we are striving to provide a qualified and educated workforce.”

Participating industry partners will include Georgia Pacific, Central Lincoln PUD, Samaritan Health, Yakona Nature Preserve, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport Public Library, Lincoln City Parks & Recreation, Pacific Inside Electrical JATC, WorkSource Oregon, Oregon Coast STEM Hub, and many more.

The Expo is part of a broader statewide celebration of Career and Technical Education Month. Throughout February, Oregon’s 17 community colleges, in partnership with the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA), are highlighting the role of CTE programs in driving the state’s workforce and supporting local economies. From healthcare and welding to early childhood education and small business development, CTE programs at community colleges prepare students for in-demand careers while supplying local employers with skilled, job-ready workers.

“OCCC’s CTE offerings are a direct response to the needs of our region’s employers,” said York. “Events like this provide a powerful opportunity for students and the public to see how education connects to real jobs and community impact.”

In addition to local events like OCCC’s Expo, community college leaders and students from across Oregon will gather in Salem for CTE Day at the Capitol on February 18. There, they will meet with legislators to advocate for continued investment in workforce education and showcase hands-on student work and demonstrations. The OCCC contingent in Salem on Feb. 18 will include President Marshall Mease Roache and students and staff from the College’s Aquarium Science Program. 

If you would like more information about the Feb. 13 CTE Expo, contact Becky York at becky.york@oregoncoast.edu.

Learn more and discover the full range of degree and certificate programs available at Oregon Coast Community College at oregoncoast.edu. Follow OCCC on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, @occcsharks. You can also join the OCCC Community on LinkedIn. Or, call the College at 541-867-8501.