Careers and caring communities

Nov. 5, 2019                                                           

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Career and leadership development certainly comes to the forefront this time of year as high school students are visiting college campuses, making decisions about their academic futures.

Simultaneously, some Aggie students from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture are returning from National FFA Convention with awards garnered through perseverance during their high schools careers. Next they are bolstered by searches into what lies ahead in the workforce or as they continue postsecondary education pursuits.

We see that hard work can reap benefits through scholarships. Accumulated experience in high school and college work study or on-the-job-training may result in early job offers for fulltime employment.

On Thursday of this week, NCTA hosts its annual Career Fair, a time for employers to connect with resume-carrying and job-seeking young adults. NCTA Aggie students have many opportunities as workforce demand is strong.

Employers are invited to post job openings throughout the year at the NCTA web site. See a link under the heading of Current Students at ncta.unl.edu, or specifically at https://ncta.unl.edu/full-part-time-jobs.

If you are seeking employment in agriculture, you might also check out the web site as it is open to the public.  Another shared opportunity with our community is an open door to the NCTA Career Fair on Thursday morning, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Nebraska Agriculture Industry Education Center.

Community forum

I was pleased to see many community members, alumni and stakeholders join us Sunday to converse with the University of Nebraska presidential candidate Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. during the open forum.

The forum was an effective method for communicating with the University of Nebraska. We counted about 50 in attendance, a good showing as area producers were still harvesting crops. Favorable comments were shared with University leadership in having this opportunity to meet Mr. Carter and for regional stakeholders to engage in the review process.

Thanks to those who attended, and to those with further interest in providing comments. NCTA was the second campus for Ted and his wife, Lynda, to visit during this 30-day public review period.

Caring community

A public food pantry will offered on Saturday in the NCTA Student Activity Center (also known as The Barn) from 9-11:30 a.m.  The distribution is open to anyone. It is coordinated with Food Bank for the Heartland, which travels to multiple locations in Nebraska and is staffed by volunteers from the college with coordination locally by Cindy Fritsche, head of NCTA Food Service.

Our NCTA Collegiate FFA and 4-H Club invites everyone to the Curtis Memorial Community Center on Monday evening, beginning at 5:30 p.m.  The students will have a benefit spaghetti feed open to the public. This supports our two clubs and assists in travel costs for students to participate in state and national events.

Veterans salute

We are grateful to the many veterans and their families in Frontier County, and to those in active duty from our ranks here at the campus and in our communities. Thank you to all who have served for our freedoms in these United States. God Bless America.

Upcoming events

Nov. 7:  NCTA Career Fair, 9 a.m. to noon, Ed Center

Nov. 9: Mobile Food Pantry, 9-11:30 a.m., Student Activity Center

Nov. 9-10: Laura Stimatze Stock Dog Clinic, 8 a.m., LTC Arena

Nov. 11: Collegiate FFA & 4-H Spaghetti Feed, 5:30-7 p.m., Curtis Community Center   

Nov. 13: District 11 FFA CDE, 8 a.m., NCTA LTC

Nov. 14: District 9 FFA Contest, 8 a.m., NCTA Ed Center

Nov. 16:  NCTA Pet Spa Day, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Vet Tech Clinic

Nov. 15-16:  Sherman Tegtmeier Horsemanship Clinic, 8 a.m., LTC arena 

Nov. 18: NCTA Discovery Day, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Ed Center