After the recent construction of the Eudora-De Soto Technical Education Center, students are now working with state-of–the-art technology everyday. The new facility houses five different Vo-Tech programs, including Agriculture, Auto Collision, Culinary Arts, Graphic Communications and Health Careers.
“This facility truly outshines the other programs in the Olathe, and Shawnee Mission school districts, all the equipment is brand new which really adds to its distinction,” counselor Randy Burwell said.
With the new building, the students are not only learning in the classroom but can get a dual credit through Johnson County Community College and have job internships lined up.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students,” Burwell said. “They have to be very dedicated to succeed in this course.”
The Health Careers program now has a fully functioning training facility simulating a typical hospital room, as well as an examination room in a doctor’s office. Most students work with this new equipment after they get their Certified Nurse’s Aide certificate.
“This facility is really nice,” junior Carly Doane said. “They have a lot more materials here then when I toured it last year.”
The new additions to the building are helping students learn better.
“This course gives us a really good understanding of the medical terminology we need to know,” Doane said.
The Auto Collision program added new collision repair equipment and a spray booth.
“This equipment would be similar or better than most auto repair facilities,” Eudora assistant principal Ron Abel said.
The Graphic Communications program lets students interested in visual communication become heavily involved in graphic design projects. They focus on giving design manipulation coupled with producing items and meeting hard output deadlines.
The Agriculture Science program is a mix between agriculture and a science lab where cell tissues and dissection can be examined. The new greenhouse allows students to actively grow plants and figure out what stimulates and impedes their growth.
Vo-Tech gives students the experience outside of the classroom to learn quickly.
“All you have to work with in a classroom are pencils and paper but we can do a lot of learning as we go,” junior Culinary student Rayanna Gossett said.
The hands-on experience has also been helpful for junior Rylan Sutton who is involved in the Culinary program.
“It teaches you a lot more,” Sutton said. “It gets stuck in your head the first time when you’re actually doing it.”
Gossett agrees and appreciates how much space she has to work.
“I love the commons area they have, it gives you enough space to work,” Gossett said.
Because of state budget cuts this year, the number of students entering the program was reduced. Returning students were given the first priority and remaining spots were filled with new students.
“We had new students join,” Burwell said “It’s just a shame it was limited.”
Students in Vo-Tech work with students from both Eudora and De Soto.
“They are learning and eventually competing against the students from these schools, it gives them a unique opportunity,” Burwell said.
Because of the new facility, students from all programs are able to work together. A greenhouse is helping both the Agriculture and Culinary students.
“It’s really cool because they are helping us get ingredients and they are learning how to grow things,” Gossett said.
Besides the facility, materials needed for learning were also replaced.
“Everything we use is brand new,” Gossett said. “We used to cook on stoves you would use in your home but now we have stoves we would really use in a restaurant.”
Through the Vo-Tech program, students are preparing for jobs they want to pursue.
“I want to be a cake decorator and I’ve already made two cakes this year,” Gossett said. “It’s exciting for me.”
Even with the benefits, the students have to be at school early everyday.
“These students leave at 6:55 a.m everyday,” Burwell said. “It shows the commitment our students have for Vo-Tech and how much they want to succeed.”
