The training ground for high school students celebrated its golden anniversary Saturday. “From Blueprint To Boom: Celebrating 50 years of Career Tech Innovation” was the Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center’s all-day event.
A car show that was far larger than they expected was a big part of the event, as well as a welcome to alumni and retirees, tours, ice cream and food, raffles, a kiddie tractor pull, bouncy house, and more.
I asked school superintendent Johnathan Davis about the event. He said the PRCTC opened in 1974, and they spent much of the start of the school year preparing for their 50th birthday.
He said they were prepared for 50 to 75 cars, but got more than 150 in the show, so the students had to make more participation plaques. Davis said those numbers tell him that they have a great alumni base spread across state who returned for this day.
The Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center accepts all juniors in both counties (except Teays Valley), and even some 8th graders, Davis said. They graduate more than 350, and have about 420 juniors. They’re part of about 50 vocational school districts across the state.
He said a lot has changed over the half century, but a lot has not – they are still preparing students for careers like welding, cosmetology, electrical, and business pathways – but they now embed college opportunities, have a veterinary assistant pathway, and offer new tech like robotics.
Davis said the facility has had numerous changes, with the last being an interior renovation about 15 years ago. But renderings were on display for a 16,000 square-foot expansion to be finished in a year, that he said will add two high-bay labs and a couple other programs.
Hear him in his own words in my video interview in the article on the Scioto Post, as well as see much of the event at end of the day Saturday – with a long look at the car show in the second video.
The Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center has a website and is on Facebook, X / Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
1 of 6 Perusing the unexpectedly large car (and motorcycle) show.
2 of 6 Renderings on display for a 16,000 square-foot expansion to be finished in a year that will add two high-bay labs and a couple other programs...in front of the original dedication plaque.
3 of 6 4 of 6 Fun for the kids!
5 of 6 Headed out.
6 of 6 From the PRCTC social media.