Featured School Ralph Willis Vo-Tech Center
Logan, West Virgina Richard Evens-Instructor
Ralph R. Willis Vo-Tech Center has just recently offered a complete CompTIA A+ Certification curriculum. Since the inception in 1999, there have been 49 students enrolled in the Heathkit CompTIA A+ program. Nineteen of those
quit, mainly due to being called back to work or relocation. Eleven of the students have yet to be tested. Of the remaining 19, eighteen received their CompTIA A+ Certification. This covers about five classes.
The Superintendent of Schools in Logan County is so sold on the Heathkit program that the school system set up a facality in a closed grade school and are paying the students who come out of the Heathkit program to repair computers for the school system.
Sucess Story Calvin Tomblin
From Coal to Computers
"The most important skills that my students take with them is the knowledge that they have learned how to learn, the ability to do research in a technical environment, and the confidence to know that they can compete in the IT field."
"The self-paced concept that Heathkit uses is uniquely adapted for the class of adult students that we are serving. It is the primary reason we chose the Heathkit materials."
"My name is Calvin Tomblin, I am 47 years old and I am a disabled coal miner of 27 years. I started at the Ralph R. Willis Vo-Tech school 14 months ago. I have to admit that being out of school for 30 odd years and one who had never turned on a
computer until January 1999 was nerve racking to say the least. Now, I am happy to say that I am quite efficient at what I do. Without Heathkit training my quest would have been near to impossible. In the last 14 months I have acquired my CompTIA A+, MCSE, CNA,
and Netware 5 Advanced Administration. Heathkit made all the difference.
Heathkit Approach is Keystone to San Diego Parternship Sucess
The Heathkit Educational Systems approach to high technology education certification and training is a keystone to the success being realized in a unique public-private partnership in the San Diego area.
Results of this benchmark program are qualified, competent graduates who are ready to succeed and go to work in the region’s vibrant high tech sector.
Through a program in concert with the San Diego Futures Foundation, a business consortium of major area corporations, students are trained in the “Heathkit Approach” at National City Adult School, in National City, a suburb of San Diego. Students
refurbish and maintain computers that are donated through the Futures Foundation by San Diego governmental agencies. Once refurbished, the computers go back out into the community for use in not-for-profit organizations.
Speaking about the Heathkit-trained students and graduates from National City Adult City Becky Stawiski, Futures Foundation Executive Director states, “Hands-on experience just can’t be beat. There’s no other way to teach. Technology is not just
about connecting people to printers. It is about connecting people to people. And, that is what going on here with this partnership.”
Included in the partnership with National City Adult School, the Futures Foundation and Heathkit are: the City of National City, California; Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego County, the National City Library, Computer
Science Corporation, Science Application International Corporation, Pacific Bell, AVIA Communications, the Sutherland Group and VeroTek Operating Center.
“With the Heathkit program we are able to create troubleshooting programs on a re-occurring basis, “ says John Avarado, senior instructor at National City Adult School and Director for the Technology Outreach Center. “Recently, 45
of our students have taken the CompTIA A+ Technology Certification Test and 41 have completed their CompTIA A+ Certification. I’ve looked at most of the commercial education programs available and the Heathkit Approach affords the best combination of
educational approaches and programs. Through the Heathkit Approach my students get real-world, hands-on experience. They’re really prepared to succeed.”
“When they (Heathkit trained students from National City Adult School) go out into the field, they’re just scooped up immediately because of their background and training,” says National City Vice Mayor Beauchamp about the regional partnership program his city helps lead.
Juan Dias, Technical Recruiter with the Sutherland Group, says, “We believe that candidates coming out of the National City Adult School are prepared to take on any position, whether it is dealing with breaking down a computer, putting it back together or helping a customer troubleshooting through phone lines or software.”
Carlos Castillo, Library Assistant and Computer Facilitator at the National City Library, was trained in the Heathkit Approach at National City Adult School. He comments, “The primary difference is the amount of hands-on work and instruction. Here at school using the Heathkit Approach, you not only follow the
step-by-step procedures and instructions the instructor gives you, but you’ve got the ability to take that motherboard out and physically hold it. That’s hands on!”
"The Heathkit Approach is something we’ve been perfecting or more than 75 years, John Oliphant, Heathkit Engineer, adds. “Whether you’re an IT student, instructor, educator or employer, nobody prepares you to succeed like Heathkit.”
Heathkit Educational Systems provides technical learning materials for students, instructors and institutions seeking technical certification training. As a full-service curriculum provider, Heathkit’s products are turnkey and comprehensive for use in either self-study or classroom environments. They stress both the “how-to” and the “why” in technical education.
Since it’s founding three-quarters of a century ago, Heathkit’s technical training materials have been used in schools, corporations, correctional institutions, and independent study situations all over the world.