In a proclamation declaring February CTE Month in Centre County, commissioners highlighted CPI’s enduring impact on workforce training, spotlighting its transformative programs and student success stories. The proclamation also aims to encourage people to familiarize themselves with CTE programs in Centre County and to participate in and support these programs where possible.

To learn more about CPI’s offerings, The Express toured their facilities and spoke with various students and faculty about the benefits of a career and technical education.

“One thing I can say is CPI definitely changed my life,” said Jaden Wagoner, a Certified Nursing Assistant in Williamsport who graduated from CPI’s post-secondary CNA program in July.

Starting at CPI down on his luck and without a vehicle to get to class, Wagoner was determined to earn his certification. With no other options, he said he camped in the woods about a mile from CPI’s campus to get to his classes each day.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Students in CPI’s Collision Repair program had the unique opportunity to tinker with a helicopter, thanks to CPI’s partnership with Penn State.

Speaking at a Centre County Commissioners meeting, he shared how his journey to becoming a CNA was more than late-night anatomy homework; it also meant fending off the coyotes that stalked his campsite.

Wagoner said his clinical experiences with CPI, caring for elderly residents in local nursing homes, not only deepened his empathy but also gave him the determination to improve his own situation.

“CPI has truly blessed me with a life I never imagined. I am very, very grateful I got the experience to do that, and I’ll appreciate them for the rest of my life,” said Wagoner, who mentioned he plans on continuing his education in pursuit of an RN license.

“Our mission is to provide our students with a wealth of knowledge that they can take right into the workforce, into post-secondary education or the military, or they might even put it into a different career and that’s okay,” said Jessica Martin, CPI’s vice president of secondary education. “These skill sets that we have here, you can absolutely use for life, whether you use them in a career or not.”

CPI President MaryAnn Volders noted that as public awareness of the importance of technical education in building a skilled workforce has grown, enrollment has increased and programs for high-demand career paths are filling up quickly.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS A view of one of CPI’s technical education classrooms.

“For the last five or six years, our enrollment has remained right there because our area — Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Penns Valley — they recognize the need for technical education and they’re not afraid to send their students to CPI,” she said.

These programs have not only expanded the horizons of the students they serve, but they have also contributed to the backbone of Centre County’s workforce. Career and Technical Education provides practical experience, integrated programs of study and leadership opportunities. All of these things allow CTE graduates to find satisfying careers and help stimulate businesses, industries and the Centre County community.

CPI currently offers 16 secondary education CTE programs, including advertising and commercial arts, culinary arts, carpentry and construction, cosmetology, dentistry, heavy machinery, horticulture, EMS, IT, HVAC and various automotive technologies, among many others.

The institute also offers 60 in-house adult & continuing education programs and more than 350 online courses. They are also working on expanding their offerings of professional apprenticeships through their “Apprenticeship Lab,” a hands-on workforce development and skill-building initiative for post-secondary students.

“Apprenticeships are huge right now,” said Volders. “We’re really trying to grow our post-secondary apprenticeship programs because we believe that the future of post-secondary ed is apprenticeships.”

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Curtis Runyan, Horticulture and Landscape Instructor at CPI, shows off the school’s greenhouse.

One such apprenticeship is the Water Quality Apprenticeship, which trains future water system operation specialists in the skills needed to monitor, control and optimize multiple potable water (drinking water) flow and treatment processes. Volders noted that companies frequently compete for CPI graduates, as few places offer formalized training for many skilled positions.

According to Martin, in particular, the school’s welding program has skyrocketed in participation and their cosmetology, heavy equipment and diesel repair courses have all also seen significant growth.

“We are so full, we can’t fit one more student in,” said Martin.

A key reason for CPI’s success is the wide array of unique experiences offered to students. In partnership with Penn State University, students in CPI’s Collision Repair course are gaining hands-on experience repairing a helicopter. Meanwhile, students studying horticulture and landscaping are learning about hydroponics, a sustainable growing technique, with the produce being grown used in Culinary Arts to provide fresh ingredients.

CPI’s Heavy Equipment Operations and Medical Assistant programs also provide access to hands-on learning experiences and career pathways that would otherwise be unavailable to many students.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Brent Riggle, CPI’s Structural Welding Instructor, created a dragon diorama for his students to show off all the different welding joints they will learn in his course. The dragon is designed to breathe fire.

Additionally, CPI is expanding its certification programs, including the new SACA Certification in Advanced Manufacturing, which prepares students for cutting-edge industry certifications.

According to school administrators, none of this would be possible without the school’s sponsors.

“They provide us with opportunities to have guest speakers come into the classroom. They provide our learners with the opportunity to do job shadows or co-op their senior year. Some of them hire (students) in the summer and full time when they graduate,” said Martin. “There’s a wealth of ways that they come in and push into our building so that we can gather and capture that information, and then we push our kids out to them.”

During the proclamation, County Commissioner Amber Concepcion said, “It is fantastic that we have programs like CPI that offer opportunities to people who are willing to put in the work.”

CPI will be holding several upcoming events at their facility at 540 N. Harrison Road, Pleasant Gap:

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Students study in one of CPI’s technical education classrooms.

— Friday, Feb. 7 is bring a family member to CPI day, where students can share their school experience with a loved one.

— Thursday Feb. 27 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sndyer’s Concessions, Twisted Whisk, Sips and Giggles, Adam & Nancy’s Paninins and Mini Donuts and Honey Baked Ham will all be participating in CPI’s Food Truck Festival.

— Thursday, Feb. 27 from 4-7 p.m. is CPI’s Open House. The event will include raffles, financial aid information, informational displays, food trucks and the opportunity to speak with faculty, participate in program activities and witness various demonstrations.

— Thursday, March 27 from 1-5 p.m. is CPI’s Spring into Healthcare program showcase where high school and adult prospective students can learn about CPI’s many healthcare career programs including their practical nursing, medical assistant, medical science technology, healthcare management, nurse aid and dental assisting/EFDA programs.

PHOTO PROVIDED From left are Commissioner Amber Concepcion, Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins, CPI President MaryAnn Volders, CPI student Avery Milanese, CPI alumnus Jaden Wagoner, CPI Vice President of Secondary Education Jessica Martin and Commissioner Steve Dershem pose following the proclamation of February 2025, Career and Technical Education Month in Centre County.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Students in the Heavy Equipment Operation Technology program are often invited to operate heavy machinery, like those pictured above, to learn essential skills for managing large-scale equipment in real-world environments. This hands-on experience helps them gain the confidence and technical knowledge required for careers in construction, mining and other industries.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS CPI is trying to revive their secondary education Precision Machine Technology program. This initiative aims to provide students with hands-on experience and a pathway to careers in advanced manufacturing.