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Orange Technical College Student Announcer: Hi, my name is Empress, and I am a medical assistant student here at OTC. And you are watching Mondays with Maria. And now here's our superintendent, Dr. Maria Vazquez.

Announcer: Presented by ADDITION Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez.

Dr. Vazquez: Today I have something special to share with you. An affordable opportunity, getting students into highly skilled, high-wage jobs faster than ever before. Take a look at Orange Technical College.

Orange Technical College Promo Video: “I didn't come here with everything figured out. I just knew I wanted something real here. The focus is simple. Affordability, train for an in-demand career, the kind that leads somewhere. I didn't want to sit and wait. I wanted to work to build something. I could stand behind. This gave me a second chance, not just to learn, but to believe I could actually do this. It started with a sport of passion. Now my craft is shaping the world around me. I walked across the stage with real experience, real confidence, and a real job. I wasn't hoping for a future. I was stepping into one. This isn't about someday. It's about getting there sooner. It's hands-on, it's focused, and it's built around real jobs that need skilled people. I thought I was just learning how to use a camera. Turns out we were all being equipped for what comes next.”

Dr. Vazquez: Oh my gosh, that's amazing. Rosa Grant is our executive leader at Orange Technical College. Welcome.  Well, we've got an exciting topic to talk about today. The four campuses are simply incredible, newly renovated, and the training in high-demand, high-wage jobs in such a short period of time that our students can take advantage of. Oh my gosh. Tell us about this.

Rosa Grant, Executive Leader: So, yes, we are so excited. Last year, we opened our main campus and our campus out west. This year we opened our East campus, which is it. And so we're excited. We started planning for our biggest campus, which is on the corner of John Young Parkway and Oak Ridge, and that's our new OTC South campus.

Dr. Vazquez: Yeah, and I remember the construction next door, right? Like the banging. But it's beautiful—and such great opportunities for our students. So, for those of our viewers who don't know, we have programs in health, science, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, transportation, and construction. Oh my gosh, I can't name all of them, but all of those are free to our students in Orange County Public Schools, right? Yes. So, let's talk a little bit about career and technical education. 

Rosa Grant, Executive Leader: Well, you know you mentioned a lot of our programs, and we've been working collaboratively with the workforce partners so we can increase our offerings to add higher-skilled, high-demand jobs, especially in the area of transportation. And I.T.

Dr. Vazquez: Those are fields that are booming, and there is a great need for workers in that, in those fields.

Rosa Grant, Executive Leader: Yes, ma'am. And our West campus, we have wait lists because…

Dr. Vazquez: Oh, my goodness.

Rosa Grant, Executive Leader: Goodness, demand is so high. We can't hire teachers fast enough. So, adults are most welcome to come to our campuses. We offer classes for adults as well, and they can finish. We offer, we like to say, a career of the year, so they can finish in a short period of time and be able to go to work.

Dr. Vazquez: Okay, so let's, let's pause on that little nugget for just a minute. So, if there are people in our community who are looking maybe to change jobs, change their career, or maybe even upskill, they're also able to go out to one of our campuses and take classes at a much-reduced rate.  And in a short period of time, come out with new certifications that are going to yield higher wages in high-demand jobs. Yeah. And for our students, right? Those are, those are done through a dual enrollment program, right? So, they're in high school. And then for part of the day, they come onto our campuses. So what is that like for one of our students?

Rosa Grant, Executive Leader: So, our students may start at their high school, and then we bus them over to our technical campus, and then we take them back to their high school to catch their bus home. So that's what the students really enjoy.

Dr. Vazquez: I bet. And talk about hands-on learning, right? They are getting the instruction. I know that when I visited the campus next door that has the health science focus, I mean, they're working on cadavers that look and feel like real people. They're working with the tools that they would be using if they were working in one of our hospitals or clinics for medical assistance. The software that they're using is the one that they would see when they are working in, in a workplace that handles those intakes. So, they really do leave our program ready to start in those high-demand, high-wage jobs. Yeah. Well, I am so thankful that you are leading the way with these beautiful new buildings, incredible programs that are available to our students and to members in our community. So, anyone who is interested, whether you're a recent grad, a current student, or an adult, please check out one of our four campuses.

Dr. Vazquez: For more information, you can go to orange tech college.net. You will find information on admissions, financial aid, and how to apply. We're dedicated to guiding you to your goal. Rosa, thank you so much for being here today. It's wonderful that our students have these opportunities as part of their education with Orange County Public Schools. Thank you for watching. Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe. We will have more on our podcast. Just go to wherever you get your podcast and search for Mondays with Maria. Have a wonderful week.

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Announcer: For an extended conversation on today's topic. Listen to the Mondays with Maria podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Mondays with Maria is presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at AdditionFi.com. For more news and information, visit TheSlice.ocps.net. I'm your announcer, Emily Hannon, a student at Audubon Park School. Thanks for watching, and have a great week.