Century Bank makes $40K donation for vo-tech tuition 

Century Bank of the Ozarks recently donated $40,000 in tuition to South Central Career Center (SCCC) for Ozark County high school students who are interested in attending the career and technical school in West Plains. The county’s four high schools – Lutie, Gainesville, Dora and Bakersfield – will have $10,000 each to help students who aren’t planning to further their education at college but instead want to learn a trade and enter the workforce sooner. “We feel like there is a need to help these students who are not attending college to learn employable skills,” said Century Bank of the Ozarks chief executive officer Chris Harlin. “Century Bank has been giving out college scholarships for decades, but we know college isn’t for everyone. There’s a huge need for skilled workers in trades that pay well but don’t require a college degree. We’re happy to be able to help Ozark County students achieve their career goals.”

Programs offered at SCCC include automotive collision, automotive technology, carpentry, advertising art, culinary arts, drafting technology, surgical technology and welding, among others.

“Bakersfield appreciates the investment Century Bank has made in our students,” said Bakersfield superintendent Amy Britt. “They give generously to scholarships for students who further their education at colleges, and now with this gift, we will be able to provide even more vocational opportunities to our students.“Learning and mastering a trade is key to that success. There’s a need for skilled trade workers as well as a demand for highly skilled workers in the technology field that does not require an advanced college degree. Net-working, coding, creating graphics are all skills that are in high demand. These skills are taught at Bakersfield High School and at SCCC. We are happy to partner with SCCC because what we can’t offer, they can, and what they don’t offer, we do. The partnership allows us to provide a skilled workforce that is ready to meet the demand that’s out there right now. We value vocational education and continually look for ways to further offerings, both on our campus and for our students who attend SCCC.”

Britt added that Bakersfield sends the highest percentage of its high school student population to SCCC of all the 11 sending schools. 

Lutie and Dora have been sending students to SCCC for many years. “The district is certainly thankful for the Century Bank donation for our vocational students,” said Lutie superintendent Scot Young. “Our numbers have grown over the last few years as more and more students and parents have realized that these programs have a lasting benefit and puts these students on a career path much sooner and match up with the skills many employers are needing. This generous donation is a win-win for Ozark County Schools.”

“We really appreciate the donation from Century Bank,” said Dora superintendent Steve Richards. “We will use it to help our students in the areas of vocational training.”

Gainesville is renewing its partnership with SCCC in the 2018-19 school year. “This is a tremendous donation by Century Bank and a great opportunity for our students,” Hyatt added. “Their donation is allowing us to get this partnership started back up with the South Central Career Center and offers wonderful training opportunities for our career-minded students. It’s very much needed. Chris Harlin deserves so much credit for his efforts in helping all of the county schools.”

Ozark County Times

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