On Wednesday, February 10th the Leadership Elk County class met for their monthly session. This month, Arts and Educational opportunities in Elk County were highlighted. The group started the day at ECCHS where they heard from the High School Principal, Sandy Florig, the Technology Coordinator, Marlene Stubber, and School Counselor, Jill Struble. The team discussed the recent physical and educational changes to the school and highlighted their recent iPad, dual enrollment, and career education initiatives. Pete Winklebauer, Art teacher and local artist gave an overview and tour of the high school’s art department.
Abbi Peters, Executive Director at Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) joined the group at ECC to speak about the county’s Arts in Education initiatives and grants that are available for arts programming in the area.
The group then traveled to SMAHS where the High School Principal, Joe Schlimm and Assistant Principal, Warren Beck highlighted the career and technical education facilities in the high school. Mr. Schlimm lead the group on a tour of the Building Construction and Metal Working Occupations programs where instructors, Ed Brem and Ben Schneider highlighted projects their students are working on.
The group enjoyed a delicious lunch at the SMAHS cafeteria. The day’s lunch and transportation were sponsored by C&A Seamless Gutters. Following lunch, the group headed to Ridgway where they toured ECCOTA and Elkwood Arts at Dickinson Center where Production Manager, Tim Thomas gave an overview of the many products and services that are offered through their wood shop and sheltered workshop program.
The group ended the day with a trip to Brockway to visit the BC3 community college campus where Jill Martin-Rend, BC3@Brockway Director, gave a presentation on the new educational opportunities available to residents of Elk County. Chuck Purviance, Arts Programming Coordinator at Brockway Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) shared information on the free youth arts program and adult education certificate courses for Elk residents at the center. He also highlighted the adult art classes that BCAT offers. Chuck awed the class by giving his presentation while demonstrating how to create a ceramic bowl with a potter’s wheel. To finish out the day Kate Brock, CEC Executive Director and Board Secretary of the newly developed Rural Regional Community College discussed the educational opportunities currently available through the Community Education Center and the future opportunities that will be available through a Rural Regional Community College initiative.
The Leadership Elk County class is offered in partnership through the Community Education Center, the Ridgway-Elk County Chamber of Commerce and the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce. Applications for next year’s class will be available in April. For more information, visit leadershipelkcounty.com or contact the CEC at cec@communityedcenter.com or (814) 781-3437.