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Providing technical and vocational education
to area residents for over three decades

by Aaron W. Hughey

The Murray Calloway County Area Technology Center was established in 1972. The Center has undergone a large amount of growth and reprogramming over the years.

Dennis Harper has been the principal of the Center for the past three years. Before assuming his present position, he was involved with the co-op program administered by the Center.

“The Murray Calloway County Area Technology Center is a state-operated school,” Harper notes. “It is one of 52 Area Technology Centers located throughout Kentucky.”

Although the Technology Center serves both the Calloway County Schools as well as the Murray Independent Schools, it is not actually affiliated with any public school system.

“The Center operates independently of the public school districts,” Harper adds. “We are part of the Kentucky Workforce Development program.”

“Currently, we offer programs in welding, machine tool, carpentry, auto maintenance, culinary arts, health sciences, and marketing/retailing,” Harper explains. “There is a lot of interest in most of these areas.”

“Welding is our newest program,” Harper says. “It was just added to our curriculum this year.”

“We also offer programs to adults when we have room,” Harper says. “For example, in addition to our regular programs, occasionally we offer short-term computer training classes.”

“Furthermore, we provide employee training programs to local companies such as Kenlake Foods and Briggs and Stratton,” Harper explains. “But these programs are always secondary to our primary mission.”

The Area Technology Center currently has about 250 students enrolled in its seven programs. It also has ten fulltime faculty and staff.

“We have a fairly large, well-equipped facility,” Harper continues. “The space at the Center is very well utilized.”

“We have received a large amount of new equipment in recent years,” Harper says. “The governor has been very supportive of the Area Technology Centers.”

“As a major project every year, students at the Area Technology Center build a house,” Harper notes. “We actually build the house on campus and then move it to a predetermined destination site. This is a wonderful learning experience for students in our carpentry and other programs.”

The local community seems especially supportive of the house building projects. The Area Technology Center is sponsoring its eighth house this year.

“The Murray Calloway County Area Technology Center serves a unique population,” Harper observes. “Our students would not have access to this kind of education and training if we were not here.”

“In the future, our plans are simply to keep going,” Harper concludes.