An Overview

The Technology Center is the only educational facility of its kind in Ohio to be totally dedicated to offering Tech Prep programs. Tech Prep is a unique curriculum offered to high school Juniors and Seniors that trains students in a high-tech discipline and allows them to earn free college credits while still in high school. These college credits will transfer to most colleges. The Tech Center offers students the rare opportunity to be enrolled in a high school program, which provides technical training, challenging academics and college credit in an environment that is conducive to learning. In fact, most Tech Center classes are taught two or three days per week at Terra Community College. Tech Center Instructors are outstanding in their fields and will provide a wealth of information and hands-on experience. Ultimately, The Tech Center’s mission is to prepare its students to move on to a two-year college, four-year college, to pursue advanced technical training, or to go directly into the work world. Training at The Tech Center offers students a distinct competitive advantage over their peers.
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Earning College Credits

Tech Center students spend two or three days a week at nearby Terra Community College taking college classes. The Terra Community College instruction is part of The Tech Center curriculum, and it allows students to fulfill the requirements for a Tech Center program while earning six high school credits at the same time. Students may also be able to test out of college classes based on their Tech Center training. Tech Center students are just like any other high school students in that they are eligible for the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program at Terra Community College. The typical Tech Center graduate earns at least a semester of college credits by the time he or she completes the program. The Technology Center is tuition free, even for those classes taught at Terra Community College. There may, however, be expenses for uniforms, workbooks and supplies.

Requirements to Attend

Students who wish to attend The Tech Center must have:

-Junior status in high school
-2.5 cumulative Grade Point Average (recommended)
-A grade of "C" or better in Algebra
-A grade of "B" or better in the sciences for the Medical  Careers program
-Good school attendance record
-No disciplinary history
-Two letters of recommendation; one from a Science teacher and  another from a Math teacher

Prospective students are also required to take the COMPASS test  -- an entrance exam used by most community colleges. The exam tests students’ knowledge in the subjects of Writing, Math and Reading to determine if they are qualified for college classes.

Member School Districts

The Technology Center is part of the Vanguard-Sentinel Career Centers school district which serves the following school districts: Bettsville, Clyde-Green Springs, Fostoria, Fostoria St. Wendelin, Fremont Ross, Fremont St. Joseph, Gibsonburg, Hopewell-Loudon, Lakota, Mohawk, New Riegel, Old Fort, Port Clinton, Seneca East, Tiffin Calvert, Tiffin Columbian, and Upper Sandusky.

The Process of Applying

Students interested in attending The Technology Center should visit their home school guidance counselor to obtain an application. The completed application must be returned to the home school guidance counselor along with a letter of recommendation from the student’s Math and Science teachers. The counselor will provide this information to The Tech Center along with the student’s high school grade transcript. Most applications are received at The Tech Center by the beginning of April for the upcoming school year. After the application is received at The Tech Center, the prospective student will interview with the Director of The Tech Center to further determine if he or she is qualified to attend and if it will be a good fit for both.

Transportation

Most students who attend The Technology Center come from one of these school districts: Bettsville, Clyde-Green Springs, Fostoria, Fremont Ross, Fremont St. Joseph, Gibsonburg, Lakota, Old Fort, Port Clinton, and Tiffin Columbian. Students from these school districts should receive free bus transportation to and from The Technology Center and to Terra Community College for their college classes.

Academic Classes and Extracurricular Activities

Tech Center students spend approximately half of the day at The Tech Center, or at their Terra Community College class, taking a technical program. Seniors attend in the morning from 7:55 a.m.-10:32 a.m., and Juniors attend in the afternoon from 12:10 p.m.-2:47 p.m. The remainder of the day is spent at the student’s home school taking academic courses. Tech Center students are able to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities at their home school.

Tech Center Programs

The Technology Center offers five (5) Tech Prep programs: Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer Communications Network Technician (CCNT), Criminal Justice (CJ), Engineering Technologies and Robotics (ETR), and Medical Careers. Following is more detailed information about each of these Tech Prep programs.
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