The P-TECH program came along at the perfect time for Maxwell Hill. "It was only in its second year when I learned about it in a meeting at my middle school. I was sold on it right away."
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 ultimately a pathway to an in-demand job.
Hill knew he would feel right at home in P-TECH because he grew up in the racing community. His father raced motocross, then switched to cars on the dirt track circuit, known as "DIRT." When Hill turned 14 he began racing his own DIRT car. "I was always around mechanics, dirt bikes, race cars, those kinds of things. It was just natural to me. I love working on things with my hands."
Hill chose the Mechanical Technology degree program and during his junior year at Central Square High School began taking classes on the Onondaga Community College campus. In his first degree-related class with Professor Gino Duca he learned about Computer Aided Design, or "CAD." "I use what I learned there almost every day with a local race car fabricator. I've designed a bunch of my own parts and I'm rebuilding my own car. I'm doing all of this based on just one 100 level college course."
Hill received his high school diploma from Central Square last June and spent the summer working at Huhtamaki in Fulton as a mechanical technician. This May, after just two semesters as a full-time student at OCC, he will earn his Mechanical Technology degree. "I want to pursue a career I enjoy and see what I can make of myself. If I need another degree, I'll go back to school. But I feel I can be successful with an associate degree."
He also wants to make sure the P-TECH program remains an option for future students with interests similar to his. "I've taken part in a board meeting in Oswego County to persuade all of the school districts to keep it going. I love P-TECH and I think it's great. I'm pretty passionate about it."
