NYS Senator Patty Ritchie tours P-TECH
New York State Senator Patty Ritchie recently visited the CiTi campus and toured the Oswego County P-TECH program. Pathways in Technology Early College High School or P-TECH for short, is a rigorous, relevant and cost-free grades 9-14 education focused on the knowledge and skills students need for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers with an advanced manufacturing career path.
State Senator Ritchie has been named to the newly created Senate Select Committee on Technology and Innovation and she praised the P-TECH program for their innovative partnership with local industry to educate and prepare young people for careers in the advanced manufacturing industry right here in Oswego County.
While on her tour Ritchie, along with P-TECH Principal Bill Lynch, visited several of the classrooms and spoke with students about what they were learning and what they liked most about the program.
The P-TECH program model combines workplace learning with ongoing mentoring by professionals from industry partners such as Huhtamaki, Novelis, Fulton Companies, Davis-Standard and Sunoco Ethanol, along with educational partners Onondaga Community College and the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi) to provide students with intensive, individualized academic opportunities and allow students to progress through the program at their own pace.
P-TECH offers career clusters in Electrical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Technology with students earning an associate’s degree from Onondaga Community College, all at no cost to the student, or their family. In addition, students who successfully complete the P-TECH program will be first in line for consideration for job openings with the industry partners in high-wage, high skill, high-demand careers.
Recruitment for the second class of Oswego County P-TECH is now open. Students currently enrolled in 8th grade are eligible to apply for the program. More information about the program can be found on their website at www.CiTiboces.org/PTECH.