Career Tech Starts Early At DACC

By 1808Delaware

For many students, career exploration begins in high school. At the Delaware Area Career Center, it started much earlier on a recent Saturday morning.

DACC welcomed students in grades 3 through 5 and their families to Career Tech Saturday, a free interactive event held at the school’s main campus at 4565 Columbus Pike in Delaware. The event gave young learners a chance to step into real career-focused classrooms, try new skills, and see how technical education connects to the world around them.

A Morning Built Around Discovery

Students could register for one- or two-hour sessions in five different program areas, each led by DACC instructors. The goal was not simply to talk about careers, but to let children experience them.

In App Development & Programming, students explored video game development using the Unity game engine. In Forensics & Crime Scene Investigation, they learned about law enforcement and forensic science while practicing fingerprinting and crime scene techniques. Digital Design allowed participants to turn their ideas into custom t-shirts, creating wearable art of their own.

Other sessions introduced students to technical fields they may not encounter in a traditional elementary classroom. In Pharmacy Tech, participants practiced medication counting and compounding in a simulated pharmacy setting. In Power Sports & Diesel Tech, they worked around engines, brakes, and tire repair, getting an early look at mechanical and transportation-related careers.

Planting The Seed Early

For DACC Superintendent Jay Poroda, the value of the event lies in giving students a chance to imagine possibilities before they are asked to make major academic or career decisions.

“Events like Career Tech Saturday are about planting a seed early,” Poroda said. “When students get to try something new in a real classroom environment, it opens their eyes to possibilities they may never have considered.”

That early exposure is a major part of the career-technical education model. By making the experience accessible to elementary students, DACC is encouraging curiosity long before students begin choosing high school pathways.

Open To Partner District Families

Career Tech Saturday was offered at no cost to students in grades 3 through 5 and their families who live in one of DACC’s partner school districts. Those districts include Big Walnut Local Schools, Buckeye Valley Local Schools, Delaware City Schools, Olentangy Schools, Worthington City Schools, and Westerville City Schools. The event also gave families a better sense of what DACC offers, not only as a high school career center but as a regional hub for career exploration and lifelong learning.

A First Look At What Comes Next

For the students, the morning was about making things, solving problems, asking questions, and trying something new. For DACC, it was part of a larger effort to connect young people with practical skills, emerging fields, and future opportunities.

The Career Center encourages families to register for DACC’s Explore Newsletter to receive updates about future free and reduced-cost career exploration opportunities. Families can also learn more by exploring DACC’s high school programs.

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Source: DACC