Hamilton Career Center turning 50

This is the 50th anniversary of the Hamilton Career Center in the School District of Oconee County (SDOC). At the public school system’s vocational education school, students learn through progressive, innovative programs that enhance technology and career skills. Hamilton Career Center Director Chad Lusk is excited about the milestone. “This is our 50th year. We are really trying to celebrate our past as we move into the future, but this is the 50th year of vocational education and having a designated facility. Obviously, we are just two years away to moving into our new facility down on Highway 11 where Tri-County Technical College has just moved in. So, it is really kind of cool timing for everything involved.” Some of the programs offered at the Hamilton Career Center are architectural and mechanical design, automotive, building construction, business, cosmetology, culinary arts, early childhood education, firefighter and EMT, graphic communications, health science, law enforcement, machine tool technology, marketing, mechatronics, sports medicine and welding. SDOC Superintendent Dr. Michael Thorsland is proud of the work being done at the Hamilton Career Center. “We are excited about the Career Center, it really is one of the jewels of the SDOC. The Career Center is just an incredible facility for our students to learn hands on, to learn things like work ethic and just get experience that they really can’t get in a traditional classroom. So, it is a wonderful facility, great teachers there and it is a place that our students enjoy going. So, we are excited to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Career Center.” The SDOC says that a community celebration of the Hamilton Career Center is in the early planning stages and that an announcement will be made later this academic year.