 For students, tech schools offer options
Published March 3, 2005.
Reprinted with permission of the Rankin Ledger
By Alfred Smith Jr.
asmithjr@rankinledger.com
After Davin Diggs' mother died more than a year ago, he needed a change from the fast-paced campus life of Jackson State University.
So the 28-year-old left JSU after three years to pursue technical training at Antonelli College in Flowood.
"I like the instructors, the students are cool and they have updated equipment," said Diggs, who is studying graphic arts at the 400-student school.
Diggs is one of hundreds of students across Rankin County who are enrolled at technical training schools such as Antonelli, the Academy of Hair Design in Pearl and SEC Training School in Flowood.
Others pursue other types of technical training at the Rankin Campus of Hinds Community College.
The schools, which offer associate degrees, diplomas or certifications in a slew of technical and specialized programs, teach trades not offered at most traditional universities and colleges.
Most students attracted to technical schools have college experience or already have been in the work force.
Antonelli College, which also has locations in Hattiesburg and Cincinnati, offers associate degrees in areas such as office applications, legal assisting, accounting, medical assisting and interior design. The school offers diplomas in computerized office specialist and medical office administration.
Programs offered at the school generally take two or less years to complete.
Michael Cates, director of admissions and associate director for Antonelli College, said the school also offers additional student services such as job placement.
"One of the biggest differences between us and college is that students usually know what they want for a career and can take classes geared toward that specific area," Cates said.
Cates said the classes are smaller and students receive a lot of hands-on training and assistance from an advisory board made up of representatives from companies.
"Most of our students are those who have been to college and realized it wasn't for them or those who are already in the work force," Cates said.
At the Academy of Hair Design in Pearl, students learn the basics of cosmetology and nail technology.
Students receive diplomas after finishing the program and must take the State Board of Cosmetology exam to earn their license.
Andrea Weems, director of admissions for the academy in Pearl, said she believes vocational and technical schools are very beneficial to students because different students learn in different ways.
"Not everyone can be in a classroom setting and understand what the professor is saying," said Weems, who attended nursing school before becoming a licensed cosmetologist.
Weems said she is the type of person who "has to put their hands in it before they can learn it."
Alicia Gutierrez of Florence, a junior at the academy, said she doesn't think she would have received the same type of training at a regular college.
"They offer a lot of Paul Mitchell classes here to help us with our perms, relaxers, color and haircuts," said Gutierrez, one of more than 90 students at the school.
Carl Henson, director of operations at SEC Training School, said his center offers training and job placement in truck driving.
Henson said what separates SEC from most vocational schools and colleges is the course length in truck driving.
"Our course is a 16-day program as opposed to almost a semester," Henson said. "We also have a 99 percent job placement rate for students after they have earned a license."
The Rankin Campus of Hinds Community College offers tech classes in areas such as business, computer network, accounting, electronics and plumbing and construction.
Jeremy Smith, career technical dean for the Rankin campus, said cost separates Hinds from technical schools.
Tuition at Hinds is $830 semester. Weems said tuition at the Academy of Hair Design is $7,000 for the hair program, which lasts 15-18 months, and $1,600 for the nail program, which lasts 17 weeks. Cates said Antonelli's tuition varies depending on the program.
Henson said tuition at SEC is $3,500 a course. Financial assistance is available at all schools.
"We have a low student-teacher ratio and offer quality instruction at a more affordable rate than technical schools," Smith said.
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