Summer Scholar Career Exploration 2021

DCTC collaborated with local high schools and businesses on tech education pathway

Dakota County Technical College partnered with Rosemount and Lakeville high schools along with local businesses to offer Summer Scholar Career Exploration, a credit recovery and college/career exploration experience.

This collaborative technical education pathway provided high school students with opportunities to not only complete required high school coursework, but to also research postsecondary options leading to careers in high-demand, high-paying fields and industries.

“Our summer scholars met three days a week for six weeks in June and July 2021,” reported Mary Jo Gardner, the college’s K12 partnerships director. “They earned high school English credits as well as college credits via a career exploration class that provided hands-on learning and much more.”

DCTC programs explored included:

“We are pleased with the outcomes of the Summer Scholar program and look forward to expanding the offering to additional students in summer 2022,” Mary Jo said.

Career exploration sessions gallery

Student and parent perspectives

Will your Summer Scholar experience at DCTC change the way you approach your senior year of high school?

Summer Scholar: “Yes, I learned a lot of new strategies that I know will help me.”

Summer Scholar: “I’ll definitely be putting in more effort in the long run, and I’ll probably be more enthusiastic about school in general.”

What were the best parts of Summer Scholar Career Exploration?

Summer Scholar parent: “The access to different types of jobs to give the kids a better understanding of options in the future.”

Summer Scholar parent: “My daughter loved the program.”

Summer Scholar Career Exploration Celebration

DCTC hosted a Summer Scholar Career Exploration Celebration Friday, July, 30, 2021, in the Dakota Room on the college’s campus in Rosemount, Minnesota. Attendees included the summer scholars and their parents as well as Michael Berndt, DCTC president, and Mike Opp, DCTC vice president of academic affairs.

Nate Maertens: Inver Hills faculty perspective…

Nate Maertens

“I was impressed by the dedication of the students, and it was inspiring to see them learn so much in (and enjoy!) the technical education courses.

“In the English class, we encouraged the students to engage more deeply with the experiences they were having through both writing and research, and I believe we were highly successful. Many students said that this was an experience that will change their lives.”

Nate Maertens
English Faculty
Inver Hills Community College

Also in attendance were representatives from the Rosemount School District, Dr. Tim Conboy, Alicia Blaz, Marci Berg and Denise Sullivan, and from the Lakeville School District, Kate Holstein and Cindy Nolan. The Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce was represented by the chamber’s president, Krista Jech.

DCTC staff in attendance included Anne Johnson, Lisé Freking, Kim Shaff, Allison Chuick, Mary Jo Gardner, Natalie Shrestha, Michael Crider, Patrick Chaussee and Heath Baumgard.

DCTC faculty on hand included Torry Jeranek (HVAC & Refrigeration Technology), Renee LeMieux (Practical Nursing) and Travis Ahlquist (Biomedical Equipment Technology). Nate Maertens, English faculty at Inver Hills Community College, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the experiences of the summer scholars in his English class.