The Precision Agriculture took a scavenger hunt to new heights!
Mr. Campbell's students flew their drone through the south campus, following all FAA guidelines, to complete a scavenger hunt to test their flying skills.
"The end goal is to prepare students to earn their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license. Drones can be used for more than agriculture; some of my licensed students are using drones for their farm operations but others are helping insurance companies for home and roof checks, aiding real estate agents, or capturing imagery. How they use their license is up to them," said Skylar Campbell, CCHS Agriculture Teacher.
In its fourth year, the precision agriculture class explores new technologies and innovative practices in the industry.
"I was planning to get my pilot's license, so I explored this, too. I earned my drone license and am using my classroom in real-life application already," said Tyler Hoskins, licensed drone pilot and sophomore from Columbia City High School Eagle Tech Academy.
Our staff received multiple requests to add this item to next year’s menu, and students made their opinions clear! Junior Ben Strack shared, “They gave out sample egg rolls — best breakfast ever! Everyone else agrees!”
We heard you loud and clear, and we’re excited to bring them back next year — along with some additional new menu items! 👏
As we continue strengthening Career & Technical Education opportunities for today’s students, we are celebrating alumni who are in CTE industries! Whether you took one class or completed an entire pathway, your experience matters.
If you’re a CCHS graduate who participated in any CTE program (Agriculture, Construction Trades, Health Sciences, Business, Welding, Criminal Justice,, Education Professions, Engineering or another pathway), comment below with a photo of the work you're doing now and what you're proud of!
Your story helps future and current students see what’s possible and shows our community the real impact of hands‑on, future‑focused learning.
Drop us a comment and help us bridge the gap for our CTE Campaign by donating today!
Today, Fire 1 and Fire 2 students received SCBA air packs, bottles, and masks for student training use. This generous donation follows a previous donation of a cascade system from Thorncreek Township, helping provide students with real-world equipment and hands-on experiences that prepare them for careers in fire and emergency services.
“I am glad we were able to do this to support the program,” shared Bill Brice of Thorncreek Township.
Fire & Rescue Instructor Zach Rumsyre added, “This is huge! This donation along with the cascade system from Thorncreek Township will set us up for quite a while.”
Partnerships like this make a tremendous impact on student learning opportunities and career readiness. Thank you to Thorncreek Township Fire Department for investing in our students and the future of the fire service profession! 🔥🧯
#CCHSCTE #FireAndRescue #CareerReady #CTEWorks #CommunityPartnerships #PublicSafety
There’s a lot happening around the new CTE building. Swipe through this carousel to see the truth behind common myths about WCCS CTE, student access, funding and regional partnerships.
Our community deserves transparency and our future workforce deserves the strongest foundation we can build.
Your investment powers real opportunities, real certifications and real futures. Learn the facts. Share to spread awareness. Help us build what comes next.
At that time, industry leaders began purchasing naming rights and equipment for the $2 million project. Now we are asking the community to help bridge the $250,000 gap for equipment, furniture, signage and final pieces for the building.
The new Career & Technical Education Building gives students hands-on training in the high-demand fields of welding, civil and construction trades, EMT, fire and rescue and criminal justice. These programs prepare students for purpose and post-secondary plans.
Every gift, large or small, helps equip classrooms and lab spaces and empowers the next generation of skilled professionals right here in Whitley County.
Bridge the Gap: https://whitley.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXRBQxvrfua8YEm
Stay tuned as we share more updates and student perspectives about our new building and its opportunities!
Read more: https://www.wccsonline.com/article/2173384
Business partners in our community provide amazing experiences for our CCHS seniors to explore career options. Extending their learning beyond the school , these experiences allow students to navigate their future plans.
It’s exciting to see the transformation taking place as construction crews continue making incredible progress on the future home of hands-on learning opportunities for our students. From updated lab spaces and welding areas to improved classrooms and infrastructure, this project is coming together quickly and will provide students with modern, industry-aligned learning environments designed to prepare them for success beyond graduation.
A huge THANK YOU to FCI Construction and all contractors involved for the outstanding work and commitment to keeping this project on schedule. Your dedication, craftsmanship, and collaboration are helping bring this vision to life for current and future generations of CCHS students.
We can’t wait to continue sharing updates as the project moves closer to completion!
#CCHSCTE #CareerTechEd #BuildingTheFuture #WorkforceDevelopment #CTEWorks #CCHSEagles #FutureReady
Congratulations to Braden Kreischer and Noah McCoy!
Both welding students signed with Steel Dynamics through the Northeast Indiana FAME program. They have completed the welding program at Columbia City High School, under the leadership of Matt Rusher.
The Northeast Indiana Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NEINFAME) connects students with employer partners to sponsor their pursuit of a two-year degree. Sponsor companies provide their selected students with mentoring and paid work experience.
NEINFAME focuses on developing critical professional skills while attending classes and earning an associate degree with education partner, Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne. Upon completion of the program, students have a high probability of no student debt, and the option to continue to earn a bachelor’s degree.
From our Director and Managers to our dedicated kitchen staff, this team works hard every day to ensure our students are well-fed, cared for, and ready to learn. They go above and beyond—finding creative ways to make meals both nutritious and fun, like the Banana Split Yogurts featured this week at the Middle School.
A big THANK YOU to all of our Whitley County School Lunch Heroes! We appreciate everything you do! 🍎
Students took part in a physical fitness challenge, crime scene investigations, the MILO simulator, and explored career opportunities at the career fair—bringing classroom learning to life in a big way.
👏 Huge congratulations to:
🥇 Ryan Baxter – 1st Place, Physical Fitness Test
🥈 Joel Bean – 2nd Place, Physical Fitness Test
This was an incredible opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned and connect with professionals in the criminal justice field.
A big thank you to Mr. Sexton and Mrs. Laursen for supporting and guiding our students throughout the event!
Thank you to Paragon Medical for sharing opportunities with CCHS students as part of National Apprenticeship Week! This week highlights the important role of apprenticeship programs in building strong talent pipelines.
Students at Columbia City High School have the opportunity to explore careers during senior internships. After completing Career-Technical Education pathway courses, they can apply the knowledge gained under the supervision of a qualified mentor. We are grateful to our community for hosting these experiences!
