LINN — Saturday’s Show-Me State Tech open house offered attendees, potential students, and parents the opportunity to tour the campus and speak with current students and instructors about the various programs offered. “I guarantee this is going to be the best open house you attend, probably in your entire life,” said State Tech President Dr. Strong, who made his grand entrance on a Harley Davidson from the college’s Power Sports program, before expounding on the many reasons students should choose to attend the college. “At State Tech, we do things right, and we do them better than anybody.”

In addition to touting the college’s high graduation rate, the school’s designation of “employers’ choice,” and the “best two-year college in the country” ranking, Dr. Strong offered some valuable life advice. “If you’re thinking about just getting a job or maybe starting an apprenticeship,” said Dr. Strong, who started his career with an Associate’s Degree in HVAC, “you gotta consider, once you start a job, life takes over, and it becomes very hard to go back to school. A job doesn’t prepare you for a career; it prepares you for a job. We want you to have the flexibility to move from position to position, to advance, or maybe to go into a completely different field. A degree will make that possible. No one will ever be able to take your degree away from you, and it will carry you through life.”

Dr. Strong also noted that State Tech graduate earn their degrees with some of the lowest debt in the country, and their starting salaries are higher than average graduates from four-year regional universities like Missouri State or Central Missouri State. “We’re less than half the price and half the time,” Dr. Strong said, adding that the 75% of students who attend as part of the A+ Program receive free tuition.

Immediately following the speeches, parents had the opportunity to attend a “nuts-and-bolts” presentation in the Vehicle and Power Center, covering aspects of enrollment, financial requirements, housing, and other pertinent information.

Various programs offered snacks, such as Central Dairy ice cream in HVAC, freshly-made donuts in the Utility Technology Center, popcorn in Precision Machining, and cotton candy in Power Sports. A shuttle pulled by a semi-truck took attendees on a tour of the less easily accessible areas, including the lake and the Heavy Equipment Operations area, where students could be seen operating equipment. All programs offered demonstrations and detailed information, and some provided attendees the opportunity to try things like health simulators, a mini-excavator, a paint booth, and welding. The Agricultural Operations program had friendly cows, sheep, and lambs, to the delight of many.

Buses were also available to take attendees to Commercial Turf and Grounds (off campus) and Osage View.

“Today is about getting questions answered,” Dr. Strong said, “Don’t leave here with questions. At lunch, my leadership team will walk around and ask you if your questions were answered.”

Lunch was a choice of nachos with a variety of toppings or pulled pork sandwiches with the traditional side dishes, followed by a vast array of cookies and brownies for dessert.

Marketing Director Brandon McElwain also provided information to prospective students and their parents.