The Ozarks Tech Springfield campus is gearing up for ExploreOTC, the annual event where sophomores from area high schools learn about opportunities to attend classes at the college during their junior and senior year.
More than 1,000 students from 26 southwest Missouri schools are expected to participate in this year’s event, which is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17.
ExploreOTC will begin in the new Plaster Manufacturing Center and rotate between different programs at the college where students get to engage in hands-on and interactive activities to help them determine what programs they are most interested in pursuing. This year’s invitation-only event is also being combined with I-Create, a manufacturing expo that was first held at the college in 2022.
“We know from holding these events in the past that students really like to see and experience first-hand the options they have at Ozarks Tech,” said Dr. Matt Hudson, executive dean of technical education at Ozarks Tech. “Allowing students to talk directly with faculty members and see the programs helps them make more informed decisions about the courses they can take and the paths they want to pursue.”
High school juniors and seniors attend Ozarks Tech classes through the Career Center and Middle College. Career Center students attend Ozarks Tech for half of the school day and their home high school for half of the day. Career Center students choose from 20 career and technical education programs, including welding, graphic design and early childhood development. Middle College students take all of their classes at Ozarks Tech. Some Middle College students earn their associate degrees simultaneously with their high school diplomas.
For more information about ExploreOTC, contact Matt Hudson at hudsonm@otc.edu or Andrea Twyford at twyforda@otc.edu.