Solvang Rotary sponsored a Tour of the Career Technical Education Center and Agricultural Farm (“CTE Center”). Representatives from four Rotary Clubs (“RC”), the Santa Barbara County Education Office, Allan Hancock College Foundation, and Rotary District 5240 participated in a tour of the new CTE Center in Santa Maria on January 13th.
The tour was conducted by Dr. Paul Robinson, CTE Director for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. Participants viewed and heard descriptions of the CTE Center’s Culinary, Machinery, Diesel, Construction, and Agricultural Farm areas.
The campus (operating since August 2021), is available to students from all four of the Santa Maria high schools, and currently serves about 125 students. This number will grow to about 800 students and staff when the facility is fully built out on its 25 acre site. There is ample opportunity for Rotary to contribute to the success of this vocational facility, whether through job shadowing/mentoring initiatives, scholarships, or otherwise.
Participants on the tour included Noelle Barthel, CTE Director at the Santa Barbara County Education Office; Jon Hooten, Executive Director for the Allan Hancock College Foundation; Rich Nagler of RC of Los Olivos and Assistant Governor for Group 9; Eddie Salame of RC of Pismo Beach and Chair of District 5240’s Vocational Services Committee; Vicki Conner, Vocational Services Chair of RC Santa Maria South; and the following members from RC of Solvang: Ian Jacobsen, President; Rick Weber, President Elect; Walt and Kay Alves, Co-Chairs of Club Services; John Harmon, Chair of Youth Services; Janice Edwards, past Chair of Community Services; and Larry Edwards, Chair of Vocational Services.
Primary contact for further information: Larry Edwards, ledwards2640@outlook.com
