Preparing for the future: new Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center readies students for careers

MOSES LAKE - Summer session students at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center have been learning about computer programming, welding, engineering, among others, even building a business. Daisy Ramirez, who's attending the summer session, said the kids have been learning more than just skills.

The classes have given her lessons in leadership, Ramirez said, teamwork, making informed decisions, taking responsibility. The skills center emphasizes the tools that kids will need to realize their dreams, Joseline Henriquez-Ruiz said. The teens were the student speakers at the skills center grand opening Tuesday, appearing before an audience of about 550 people.

Ramirez said she had learned the value of determination and not giving up when running into a setback. Everyone falls down, Henriquez-Ruiz said, and what makes the difference is how one gets back up.

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door," Daisy said.

The $19.7 million project was completed last month, and is hosting two summer sessions. John Aultman, the Olympia consultant who worked on the project, said classes for the 2014-15 school year are almost full.

The classes are open to students in the Moses Lake, Ephrata, Wilson Creek, Quincy, Lake Roosevelt (Grand Coulee), Royal, Warden, Soap Lake, Almira/Coulee-Hartline in Grant County and Othello in Adams County. Students will attend either the morning or afternoon session, and spend the rest of the day at their own school.

Summer school started with a nearly all-school project. The entrepreneur class came up with two prospective products, a doghouse and dog treats. The pre-engineering class designed the doghouse and the skilled trades class built it. The culinary arts class analyzed the nutritional content of the dog treats.

While grand opening visitors wandered through the building, students returned to work, stopping to demonstrate what they were doing to interested audiences. Medical careers students showed the techniques of checking blood pressure. Welding students continued to hone their skills. Kids in the pre-engineering class demonstrated how to build a blueprint.

One of the doghouses, painted white and pastel blue, sat in the middle of the skilled trade shop. Dawson Carson, of Moses Lake, said he learned to measure twice and cut once. "Check your stuff," he said.

Ricky Rojas learned how to use hand and power tools and how to build things, he said. "I learned how to lead, too," he said, working in a group, giving support to kids who were having trouble, and in the end reaching the goal.

It was a big crowd and it was right around noon, so the culinary arts students had prepared lunch for interested parties that included a fruit plate, turkey sandwiches and a full table of desserts. The students stayed busy keeping the buffet tables stocked.