Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By RACHEL MARTIN | Chilton County Chamber of Commerce president

Henry Ford said, “The way to learn to do things is to do things. The way to learn a trade is to work at it. Success teaches how to succeed. Begin with the determination to succeed, and the work is half done already.” The truth and meaning to these words are evident at LeCroy Career Technical Center.

We hear on the news about skilled laborer shortage. We know that skilled workers are what keep this country running. So, what can be done to help with this shortage? Ask the administrators and instructors out at LCTC! Ask the students!  Ask the local employers, right here in Chilton County, who have already recruited these students as interns, and have made plans to hire them on full-time after graduation! At LCTC, instructors work closely with students to prepare them for life after graduation. Students learn more than just how to work in their trade field here. They learn communication skills, how to work together as a team, how to interact with employers, and how to be a productive member of their community.

The Chilton Chamber had the pleasure of meeting with students from the different programs offered at LCTC this week. To say we were impressed, would be an understatement!  These kids came in and shook our hand, made eye contact and told us about their experience at LCTC. Each one told us that they feel like they are much better prepared for their career and/or college than they would have been, had they not had this experience. We all know that the time after graduation, can be a little scary, so the confidence these students have gained as they step out into the real world, will be a tremendous help for them.

Many students at LCTC were involved in class projects during their time at the school. These projects not only helped them get hands-on experience doing what they have learned, but also helped their entire community. (Watch for the Santa float in the next Clanton Christmas Parade!  Several departments and classes have teamed up to make Santa’s sleigh look better than ever!)

LeCroy Career Technical Center is helping to train skilled workers to go out into the workforce, train students to communicate and work well with others, training them to be productive citizens that contribute to their community and to be leaders. They are sending students off to careers. They are sending students off to college. They are sending students out to be productive young adults that every community desperately needs. The administrators and instructors work with businesses and colleges to find out what their needs are, and then they work with the students to prepare them to be able to meet those needs. 

The Chilton Chamber recently raised funds to be able to offer the Mike Robertson Scholarship to students again. While there are many deserving students at LCTC, the Chilton Chamber is proud to be able to offer four students a $500 each scholarship, that will help them with purchasing tools, supplies, books, or other needs to further their career or education. Although I never got to personally meet Mike Robertson, from what I have heard and learned about him, I fully believe that these outstanding students/citizens would make him proud. We would love to offer more scholarships, and hopefully one day, funding will allow for that. If you are a business or individual who would like to make a contribution to the Mike Robertson Scholarship Fund, please contact the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce at 205-755-2400 or info@chiltonchamber.org.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, LeCroy Career Technical Center is an extremely valuable asset to Chilton County! This article is not nearly enough to explain all of the aspects of the center, but you can find out more by contacting them at 205-280-2920.