From hands-on learning to career preparation, Frederick County’s Career and Technology Center gives students opportunities to explore their passions and prepare for life after high school.
By Donovan Bridgett
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — For many high school students, deciding what to do after graduation can feel overwhelming. Some plan to attend college, while others hope to enter the workforce or pursue specialized training. At the Frederick County Career and Technology Center, students can begin exploring career interests before they receive their high school diplomas.
The Career and Technology Center, known as CTC, connects classroom education with practical experiences. Students can explore professional interests, develop skills and learn alongside classmates who share similar goals. For students considering their next steps, that kind of exposure can make a difference.
For me, CTC was more than another place to attend classes. As a former student in its Homeland Security and Criminal Justice program, I had the opportunity to explore a field I have been passionate about for years. My interest in criminal justice and my goal of one day working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the program especially meaningful. CTC helped me think more seriously about my future and what it would take to get there.
Learning Beyond the Traditional Classroom
One of the most valuable aspects of career and technical education is the connection between lessons and the work students may someday do. A traditional classroom provides an important academic foundation, but CTC gives students a setting focused on the careers and trades they want to explore.
Professor Andrew Zucco, an instructor at CTC who is in his 10th year of teaching, said the shared interests of students are a major part of what makes the school different. Students come from their regular high schools to learn alongside others interested in similar fields.
“I think the CTC helps prepare students because it provides a more professional setting, with many of the teachers coming directly from an industry or practicing a trade,” Zucco said.
That professional perspective matters in fields such as criminal justice, where communication, critical thinking, accountability and good judgment are important. Zucco said hands-on learning is central to preparing students for future careers: “We try to replicate that as much as possible at the CTC and in our program.”
A Student’s Experience
Hope Lehto, a current third-year student in CTC’s Homeland Security and Criminal Justice program, said she initially decided to attend because of the opportunities and experiences she heard about from friends already enrolled.
“CTC has helped me tremendously with my interviewing and conversation skills,” Lehto said. She explained that she entered the program with limited confidence in her communication skills and has since learned how to hold conversations more comfortably.
Lehto said her teachers have also guided her through the college process and helped her look for an internship and a possible job after high school. Those are opportunities she believes she would not have experienced in the same way at her home school.
Her favorite part of CTC has been participating in SkillsUSA. Lehto described attending multiple levels of the organization and taking on leadership responsibilities for her class and school as particularly meaningful.
“It truly is a school that benefits you for the real world,” Lehto said, adding that students have the chance to work one on one with people in the fields they want to study.
Success Beyond Graduation
For Zucco, one of the greatest rewards of teaching comes after students leave CTC. He said former students have returned to share their experiences and accomplishments, including becoming lawyers and joining police forces.
“The most rewarding experience is when I hear about successes from former students, such as a former student becoming a lawyer or making it onto the police force and enjoying their career,” he said.
Those stories reflect a broader benefit of career and technical education: students do not have to know exactly where their careers will lead to gain something useful. Zucco said students can learn skills that remain valuable even if they ultimately choose a different field.
For Lehto, the people she has met are an important part of what makes the experience memorable. Her comments reinforce something I came to appreciate during my own time at CTC: the program is not only about studying a possible profession. It is also about building confidence, forming connections and taking the next step toward adulthood.
A Hidden Gem in Frederick County
Zucco believes more people in Frederick County should know what CTC offers. He described it as a school sometimes called the “Hidden Gem” of Frederick County Public Schools, while noting that growing interest has also increased the demand for classroom space.
“You will learn things about a career or trade that you wouldn’t learn about in your home school,” he said in advice to families considering CTC.
As a former student, I know how meaningful that chance to explore a career can be. My experience in the Homeland Security and Criminal Justice program helped turn an interest into a more serious goal. Zucco’s reflections and Lehto’s experience show that the benefits can take many forms, from practical skills and mentorship to greater confidence about the future.
For Frederick County students deciding what comes after high school, CTC offers something valuable: an opportunity to start finding out before graduation.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.