The Dallas County Career Technical Center hosted the first of many guest speakers for this school year. Phil Litteral, with Universal Technical Institute, came to discuss career opportunities with the students, showing them videos and pictures of students at the school that work with Mercedes and Harley Davidson.

“You know what your homework will be in these classes?” Litteral asked the class. “You will be reading articles on cars and things in the automotive industry. You won’t be writing poems, 100 percent of your time is going to be in the automotive program.”

Some 50 students who study welding and automotive mechanics were packed into the classroom to listen to Litteral, and they seemed glued to his presentation when he mentioned that UTI does not have students reading and studying math textbooks, only studying what they will have to use in the workforce.

“These guest speakers inspire the kids and it is to get them the information about their school, about their career and about their pathway,” Jerolene Williams, director of the Career Tech Center, said.

Williams said she gets speakers to come and talk to the students at least twice a month. The speakers will talk about schools and job opportunities and this also allows the students to get a feel for what a job in the workforce will be like.

“We try to keep our kids abreast about what’s going on with our schools,” Williams said. “Everything is moving towards workforce development and we are trying to prepare them for the workforce.”

The students are fascinated during these presentations, she said, because they realize the potential for growth and development.

“We give our kids an idea of what they can make if they continue to stay on course. And that’s what they want to do — learn so they can later earn — that’s our motto,” Williams said.

Throughout the school year, the Dallas County Career Technical Center will offer speakers and presentations for all three programs — medical, welding and automotive. Like Litteral’s presentation, these speakers, Williams said, will encourage students to pursue jobs in these industries directly after graduation, rather than racking up loans at a university.