Making phone calls, sending text messages, emails, and surfing the web – where would we be without these luxuries … some may say ... necessities? These things just seem to magically work for us, right? Wrong!

It is not magic (or telepathy) – this is telecommunications.

In this area, the magicians that wave the wands are usually Marion Technical College graduates. At MTC, Telecom program students are trained in the art of splicing fiber optics and cables, plus installing and maintaining the equipment on both ends of these cables just so the world can communicate.

This is a degree that extends to Highland High School. Highland has worked with MTC to develop a Telecom program that starts in the sophomore year. If a student follows the Telecom path as mapped out, he or she can graduate high school and earn an associate degree at the same time.

David Adkins is a senior at Highland High School and has also been enrolled in the MTC Telecom program. Adkins isn’t sure that he will continue with Telecom after he graduates from high school, but even if he doesn’t end up making a career out of Telecom he has gained close to 60 college credits in high school that he can use toward college.

I’m going to try it. If I like it, I’ll stay in it. If it’s not a good fit for me, I have college credits that I can use toward something else,” Adkins said.

Ryan Tomlan is in the program because he knows this is what he wants to do. “I lost a job, and that’s what brought me to MTC. I couldn’t be happier with my career choice. I like being outside and doing hands-on work, so I know I will love this career,” Tomlan said of the Telecom program.

Lucas Orsborn graduated from MTC in 2006. He had gone through the Telecom program while attending Highland High School and ended up transferring to Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU). Orsborn’s an example of someone who used all of those college credits from the program to continue his education. He said that all of his credits from MTC transferred to MVNU.

Orsborn sums it up best when asked what the benefits of the Telecom program were to him, “There are numerous benefits. The degree is an obvious benefit, and it has changed the course of my educational journey. Other benefits would be that I established and strengthened friendships, matured as a student, had opportunities not normally an option. Being in Telecom exposed me to areas and situations that I never would have imagined.”

So don’t let the Telecom program scare you. Even if you don’t choose it as a career path, you will find it an excellent opportunity to gain credits. If you would like to learn more about the Telecom Academy at Highland High School, go to www.mtc.edu/FutureStudents, and click on the “High School Student (PSEO)” link on the right, or call 740-389-4636.
If you know that you like the outdoors and would enjoy a career in Telecommunications– go to www.mtc.edu/Engineering and click on Telecommunications on the right.