Young Hosts Fair Shot Agenda Roundtable Highlighting Career and Technical Education
HAMMOND, Ind. – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) hosted a roundtable discussion at the Purdue University Northwest Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC) in Hammond as part of his Fair Shot Agenda. The event, which coincides with Career and Technical Education Month, focused on the need to expand apprenticeship programs and career and technical education (CTE) in Indiana.
“A key component of my Fair Shot Agenda is ensuring that every Hoosier has access to a quality education and a good job. One way to accomplish this is to address key gaps in the workforce, and to explore and promote the unique ways that apprenticeship programs and career and technical training can provide opportunities for Hoosier students,” said Senator Young, co-chair of the Senate CTE Caucus.
Senator Young has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to help bolster CTE programs, including:
- The Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence Act, which creates a grant program for high-quality CTE programs in high schools.
- The Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which strengthens CTE programs and improves links between high school and higher education.
- The 21st Century SHOP CLASS Act, which helps modernize career and technical education in secondary curriculum.
The Fair Shot Agenda focuses on four key areas: opportunity, safety, health, and better government. Today’s roundtable focused specifically on the opportunity component of the Fair Shot Agenda, and examined what is working with CTE in Indiana and what improvements can be made.
Click here for a full list of speakers from today’s roundtable.
Senator Young launched his Fair Shot Agenda yesterday with a roundtable in Indianapolis. He will host another roundtable tomorrow in Fort Wayne. Click here for more information on the Fair Shot Agenda.
What they are saying:
“I am honored to participate in Senator Young’s Fair Shot Agenda and to share my experience with career and technical education. My high school CTE program helped me to narrow down my interests so I have a clear focus in pursuing additional education and entering the workforce,” said Haley Clark, a student at Washington Township High School.
“I am excited for this opportunity to speak at Senator Young’s Fair Shot Agenda roundtable. This experience was incredibly beneficial for me to share how career and technical education has impacted my life. CTE gave me a jump start for college through my health science education classes as I pursue a degree in nursing,” said Courtney Milzarek, a student at Chesterton High School.
“CMEC is the result of PNW’s commitment to augment economic development in Northwest Indiana. CMEC facilitates commercialization of innovative ideas/products and engages in workforce development for regional businesses and industries. Our mission is aligned with Senator Young’s Fair Shot Agenda and we were glad to host him at CMEC for today’s event,” said Niaz Latif, PhD, Dean, College of Technology/Executive Director at Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC) at Purdue University Northwest.
“Ivy Tech Community College is on the leading edge of preparing Hoosiers with the right skills and credentials to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s Indiana economy. Ivy Tech has launched a strategic plan with seven measurable goals to drive student success and completion and to ensure Hoosiers have the skills Indiana businesses demand. We were pleased to join this important discussion with Senator Young today” said Chris R. Lowery, Senior Vice President of Workforce Alignment, Ivy Tech Community College.