Open house is serious business

By Kim Swaney

Both the Nursing Assistant and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant training programs require students such as Cecily to perform competency exams and clinical hands-on training both on campus at the Center’s clinic and off campus at the Tribal Health and Human Services, Mountain View Care Center, Mission Mountain Medicine, St. Luke’s Hospital and the American Red Cross. (Kim Swaney photo)

RONAN — There wasn’t anyone there to tell Tress Big Day what he should do with his life. He says he just woke up one day and decided he needed to get his life together. He started telling his friends and everyone else he had signed up for Job Corps.

When the waiting went from weeks to months, no one asked him when was he going and then one day, he got the call. It was a big day for Tress as he remembers Kicking Horse staff member, Lance Friedlander asking him if he was ready to go. He was ready.

As Tress shut the door to his youthful past, Kicking Horse Job Corps opened its doors and he entered KHJC’s Business and Finance program, one of nine career technical training areas currently offered.

Kicking Horse also opened its doors to the community earlier last month. Student leaders/guides in all of the training areas showcased their training and job market information like the average wage for a trained, skilled person in their respective career during the annual open house.

The open house is serious business for Kicking Horse staff and students. Students like Tress, answered questions regarding their training and the possibilities of advanced training from community members and prospective students during tours of the center all-day long.

Kicking Horse offers continuous training and scholarships to all its students. Students have the opportunity to obtain national certification as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant or state certification as a Nursing Assistant. Nursing Assistants can transfer their state certification to any state.

Their Dental Assistant program is offered through coursework at Salish Kootenai College and is accredited through the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. SKC is one of the elite colleges to receive such accreditation.

Lyle Fisher of Hot Springs performs maintenance on this John Deere tractor as part of his training in the Facilities Maintenance program. (Kim Swaney photo)

If a medical or dental profession isn’t your cup-of-tea, there are a half-dozen other programs to choose from, such as Culinary Arts where students can prepare to become line-cooks, bakers, caterers or another type of cook in the food service industry.

If you like building things then there is Carpentry. Students receive instruction on safety first followed by building, framing, and installation techniques; or Facilities Maintenance where students can work as a maintenance technician when they complete the program. Plumbing students are encouraged to further their training at another Job Corps Center in New Jersey.

In almost all of the career technical training areas, students have the opportunity to either find employment when they complete their training at Kicking Horse or they can further their training by attending another Job Corps Center with advanced specific training.

The United Auto Workers program at Clearfield Job Corps Center in Utah or the Advanced Automotive/Diesel programs at Burdick Job Corps in North Dakota are ideal for students in Diesel Mechanics.

Kicking Horse’s graduates may be eligible for apprentice programs with the local Ironworker’s Union, International Laborers, Carpenters’ and Operators’ Unions.

Kicking Horse has four dormitories for students who choose the residential living environment or students can still attend Job Corps’ programs by becoming a non-resident. Tress Big Day wanted to live at Kicking Horse even though he grew up in the Mission Valley. He liked the structured-living at Kicking Horse.

“I thought [it] was a place for drop-outs until I got here,” says Tress. “I highly recommend it! Everything’s free!”

Non-residential students have the same expectations as students who live on campus, meaning they perform all the same entrance tests, they must complete all the same training and they must be drug-free while a Kicking Horse student.

Students have the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, a GED, and college credits through SKC. They receive a modest living allowance, which increases with longevity. They receive medical and dental services as necessary. They can earn a Commercial Driver’s License or a regular Driver’s License. They can receive assistance with applying for employment, advanced training or the armed forces. And, upon graduation they’ll receive up to $1,200 from Job Corps for transitioning.

To be eligible, students must be 16-24 years of age, and must meet certain income guidelines. The upper age limit is waived for students with disabilities.

Students or parents interested in finding out more or to arrange a tour of the center can call them at (406) 644-2217 or visit the CSKT website at http://www.cskt.org/khjc.htm