Austin Schouten remembers the first time he heard about the P-TECH program like it was yesterday. "I was in 8th grade. We had a meeting in the Atrium area at our school with P-TECH people. I thought it was amazing because I always wanted to do something with drafting or electronics. It was the perfect opportunity and college would be free."
Five years later Schouten has made the most of his P-TECH opportunity. In May he'll earn his Electrical Technology degree and begin working full time at Novelis, an aluminum mill in Oswego. "Now that I've gotten this far I'm thinking 'wow... this is awesome. It worked out better than I could have expected.'"
P-TECH stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School. It's a program that provides high school students the opportunity to work toward their high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously, and provide them a pathway to an in-demand job.
During his junior year at Pulaski High School, Schouten began coming to the Onondaga Community College twice a week as part of P-TECH. He had the option of choosing either Mechanical Technology or Electrical Technology. "I really wanted to be a draftsman. My dad was a draftsman at the Fulton Companies. Over time I realized the electrical stuff was really fun and I enjoyed it because I was good at math."
The adjustment to life on a college campus happened thanks in large part to the Lazer Lounge on the first floor of the Gordon Student Center. "We hung out in the game room in between classes. It's where we really meshed with the other students."
During his senior year Schouten came to OCC five days a week. The flexibility of his P-TECH schedule allowed him to participate in extracurricular activities at Pulaski. I still did cross country, swimming and track. I really loved sports and was able to do that throughout. I was also able to continue doing chorus and marching band too."
Schouten was also getting the most out of the P-TECH program. He took part in job shadow opportunities at both Novelis and the Huhtamaki packaging and labeling company in Fulton. He also interned at Novelis. He'll go to work there after just one year on the OCC campus as a full-time student.
As he departs P-TECH he's also serving as an unofficial recruiter for the program. He's trying to convince his cousin in the 8th grade to follow in his footsteps. "I've been telling him to try even if he's not 100% sure it's what he wants. It's such a great opportunity. You're earning credits and they are free. It's an amazing opportunity you just can't pass up."
