AUSTIN, Texas — KVUE is a proud sponsor of Make It Movement, along with UFCU and Texas Mutual. If you’d like to learn more, go to MakeItMovement.org.
As more companies move to the Austin area, employers are recruiting people for high-demand earlier and earlier. Local schools are trying to teach kids about their career options outside of four-year college degrees.
Austin Community College offers Career Academies to high school students in Central Texas. Through those academies, students can get entry-level career certificates in fields like construction, health sciences, education and more.
Natalie Almanza is with the Career Programs department at ACC. She told KVUE that students often don’t know about these opportunities until after they graduate from high school.
“One thing I've heard over and over again in the last two years is ‘Had I known' -- that is the big thing that keeps coming up from students' mouths: ‘Had I known that I needed to make time in my schedule for this,' or for families that 'Had I know this program was even available, I would have made sure my child would have participated,’” Almanza said.
She also said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, more students have sought out alternatives to a four-year college degree.
“Students have seen now what an essential job is,” Almanza said. “This has really shined a different light on what opportunities are available after high school that isn't always specific to a four-year institution.”
ACC’s Career Academies are free for students who are in local school districts that partner with ACC. Out-of-district students qualify for discounts and pay $150 per course.
ACC also works with the Make It Movement, which is a marketing campaign that aims to connect young people with high-skill, high-paying careers early.
KVUE is a proud sponsor of Make It Movement, along with UFCU and Texas Mutual. If you’d like to learn more, go to MakeItMovement.org.
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