One week each month over the next year, the Jessamine Journal will partner up with the Jessamine Career and Technology Center to inform readers about a different program offered at the school.

This month, we will look at the Center for College & Career Readiness. This online course assists students in the process of transitioning from high school to post-secondary life. It also provides individual consultation on career choices and negotiation of personal issues students are facing. In addition, it conducts periodic consultation with alumni of Jessamine County Schools to assist with post-secondary issues that may arise for students.

The Center for College & Career Readiness manages the Work Experience Program, in which 131 students are currently taking part. Through this program, students obtain their own jobs and work or volunteer as part of the course requirements.

From September through November, the course offers students its College Road Show, with campus visits available for students to various regional universities: the University of Kentucky on Sept. 19 and 21, Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s Cooper campus on Sept. 28, the University of Louisville on Oct. 5, Northern Kentucky University on Oct. 17 and Morehead State University on Nov. 7.

Since October is FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Completion Month and FAFSA enrollment for students is available online beginning Oct. 1, the Center for College and Career Readiness will offer enrollment assistance for students. The Center makes itself available for assistance through appointments with students and their families throughout the month.

Other key dates for the course this fall include Oct. 19, when it will host the JCTC Advisory Committee Luncheon. Advisory Committees are required for each Career and Technical Education area to inform instruction and programming to meet the needs of employers in the industries related to each field. Then on Nov. 2, the 10th Annual College & Career Fair, with which the Center for College & Career Readiness is heavily involved, will be held at JCTC.

According to the Center, the Career Fair hosts around thirty vendors representing post-graduation and career options such as the military, colleges and universities and local business and tradespeople. It is anticipated that approximately 1,500 students will attend this year’s fair.

The JCTC Ambassador Team, another key facet of the Center for College & Career Readiness, assists in school awards programs, open houses and promotional events, as well as providing special guest tours.

During the spring semester, they assist in the registration of over 500 rising freshman from East and West Jessamine Middle Schools.