Vanessa Hartwig, left, and Alexander Doane.
Two area students received technical diplomas in Blackhawk’s Welding program in May - prior to their high school graduation.
Alexander Doane, a student at Janesville Craig High School, and Vanessa Hartwig, a student at Monroe High School, enrolled in Blackhawk’s Start College Now program, which allows high school juniors and seniors to attend Blackhawk and earn credits.
“Applying for the Start College Now program was the best choice I made in my high school career,” Alexander said. “It allowed me to explore a field of employment that was completely foreign to me.”
Vanessa took what she considers a leap of faith in entering Blackhawk’s welding program.
“I was drawn to the Welding program because of how much flexibility there is and having the ability to work on my own time and own pace,” Vanessa said.
Learning welding skills and techniques in a college-based environment has given Alexander and Vanessa a leg up on others thinking of going into that field. And Blackhawk’s flexible learning options made it easier for the two to balance their classes with high school, jobs and personal lives. In the Welding program, Blackhawk offers the Flexible Laboratory, which allows students to attend when it is most convenient within the designated open lab hours.
As a high school student enrolled in college courses, Alexander said he learned that it isn’t necessarily a bad thing not to know how to do something right away.
“Not knowing is an opportunity for growth and allows you to look at the problem from a different perspective,” he said.
For students thinking of entering Blackhawk’s Start College Now program, Vanessa believes the experiences and opportunities you get make it all worth it in the end.
"The outcome has been rewarding for all the time spent working hard to get where I am," Vanessa said. “I would highly recommend looking into taking classes at Blackhawk.”
Vanessa plans to attend the Advanced Welding Institute this fall to further her education in Welding. She hopes to become a welding inspector or weld shop supervisor/manager.
Alexander plans to either start his own welding-related business or gain more skills by working for a mid-size company in Rock County.
Start College in High School
High school students can earn college credit through advanced standing or transcripted credit articulation agreements between Blackhawk and high schools in Rock and Green counties,
High school students also can participate in the Start College Now program, which is open to juniors and seniors who have approval from their school district and meet other requirements.
Learn more about the options at blackhawk.edu/startcollegenow.