Williston, N.D., April 16th__ Brian Rencher, Transportation Instructor and TAACCCT Grant Director, along with eight other Williston State College employees presented at the Northwest Career Expo, March 18th.  This event was coordinated and sponsored by The Great Northwest Education Cooperative (GNWEC). Williston State College provided the facility to host nearly 500 students from high schools all over Northwest North Dakota.

Presenters were given 45 minutes to explain their area as a potential career path. Rencher, stated, "We rotated students through 15-minute sections on hydraulics, drive-train systems and electrical systems.  A current student in the transportation program led each section. Presenting along with the student was a local employer in that field to explain the employment aspect to the students."

Rencher was lucky enough to have had two local companies share their experiences and expertise. A representative from Tractor & Equipment, a Caterpillar dealer, explained hydraulics while an employee of Interstate Power Systems explained the Drive-Train systems. Rencher presented on the Electrical System.

In the fall of 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $500 million to higher education institutions across the country under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program. Williston State College is one of the five schools in North Dakota who have been awarded this grant in hopes to expand and improve training programs that can be completed in two years or less. "This type of collaboration with training programs and employers is what provides a pathway from high school to college and then into employment. This is what the TAACCCT grant is designed to implement at local community colleges," Rencher explained. "Hopefully this brief exposure to these mechanical subjects at the expo will allow high school students to think about career options that are available in the local area."

Visit http://www.doleta.gov/taaccct/ for more information on the TAACCCT Grant or
contact Brian Rencher, brian.rencher@willistonstate.edu or 701.774.4563.
For more information on The Great Northwest Education Cooperative (GNWEC)
contact Janice Arnson, janice.arnson@sendit.nodak.edu.

For other information regarding Williston State College, visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 1.888.863.9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.