Hanover center gives students a jump in finding a career

Lee-Davis High School junior Haley Herbert doesn't have a job yet, but when she's ready, she has one waiting for her.

Herbert is a second-year cosmetology student at the Hanover Center for Trades and Technology.

Her personal hairstylist "knows I'm enrolled in cosmetology [and] she offered me a job" at the completion of the program, Herbert said.

"It's been a great experience," Herbert said, adding that had the center not opened last year for Hanover County students, she would have tried to attend a cosmetology program in another school division. "I always wanted to see what cosmetology is like."

Herbert and 444 other students are getting to test out possible career choices at the center this year in areas such as automotive technology, industrial technology, culinary arts, small-engine repair and the building trades. There's also a fire-science class, thanks to a partnership with J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

The school opened last year with 233 students. Principal Charlie Hurd said programs were so popular this year that they added two more culinary-arts classes, as well as an additional auto-technology class.

Most programs are for three years and include work experience. "Our goal was to accommodate everybody," Hurd said.

Cosmetology teacher Gwen Thomas used to teach at Richmond's Empire Beauty School, and she also owned her own salon.

As the first week of school came to a close, Thomas said she's looking ahead to opportunities for her students to participate in local and national skills' competitions, such as SkillsUSA.

"Parents depend on us to make sure [students are] taken care of," Thomas said, and part of that involves teaching the skills that students need for employment after graduation. Some of her students already are working, she said.

Hurd said there were no waiting lists this year for any program, though he expects student enrollment to grow again next year as students begin third-year classes.

"The community is very supportive" of the center, Hurd said. "It was something that was wanted for a long time."

Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or .