Twenty area incoming eighth grade students participated in the Northwest Career Academy

program (NWCA). The students spent three days touring area businesses, performing community service and learning about economic opportunities available for them throughout Northwest Oklahoma. The academy took place on May 21-23. NWCA is a joint effort by Northwest Technology Center, the NWTC Foundation and area banks, financial institutions, the ORRC and others.

Those participating included:  Brooklyn Riggs of Freedom, Reagan Wilson of Waynoka, Kaylee Eckhardt, Jordan Alvidrez, Kendal Collins, and Creed Patterson of Cherokee, Elijah Wallace and Bentlee Naugle of Aline-Cleo, Graham Goss, Kuper Penco, Falynn Thomas, Parker Grimsley, Zachary Nichols and Lexi Percival of Alva, Hayden Estrada of Canton, Keith Richards and Anna Baker of Ringwood, and Maggie Elder, Madalyn Whipple and Natalie Miller all of Fairview.

The students were housed at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and participated in activities coordinated by Northwest Technology Center staff.   The funding for the student’s activities is being provided through a grant from the ORRC along with Northwest Technology Center and sponsorship from the NWTC Foundation.  Each student will benefit from the opportunity to be matched with a mentor. The mentor will give the NWCA participants an additional resource for networking.

Each summer for the next four years, these students will participate in activities designed to stimulate an interest in locating businesses or finding careers located in Northwest Oklahoma.   At the end of the five year program, the students will receive a scholarship to be used for higher education or tools of the trade courtesy of a local bank or financial institution.  The program began in 2007.   

Those providing scholarships include: ORRC, Alva State Bank, Alva State Bank—Freedom Branch, Community Bank of Alva, Cleo State Bank—Meno Branch and Cleo State Bank—Cleo Springs Branch, Gateway First Bank of Cherokee, Alfalfa Electric Cooperative(AEC) and COREBANK of Waynoka, ACB Bank, Fairview Savings and Loan, Public Service Company of Oklahoma(PSO) and NBC-Oklahoma . 

 For more information on the program, contact Melinda Barton at 580.327.0344.    

Photo: Students participating in the Northwest Career Academy included: (back row l to r)  Creed Patterson, Bentlee Naugle, Zachary Nichols, Elijah Wallace, Parker Grimsley, Hayden Estrada, Falynn Thomas, Kaylee Eckhardt, (middle row l to r) Kuper Penco, Graham Goss, Jordan Alvidrez, Reagan Wilson, Anna Baker, Madalynn Whipple, Kendal Collins, (front row l to r) Keith Richards, Maggie Elder, Natalie Miller, Brooklyn Riggs and Lexi Percival.