April Kelly, a student in Chisholm Trail Technology Center’s Computer Web Services (CWS) program, is a great example of how CareerTech education helps create and retain jobs in rural Oklahoma.

Kelly, a Kingfisher resident, has partnered with her sister, Shannon West, another Chisholm Trail student, to launch the Creative Key, an online Web design company which can be found on the Internet.

“We are currently involved with a large contract with the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “We are redesigning the chamber’s Web site and several other Web sites of businesses associated with the chamber.”

That's why she is being recognized as one of Oklahoma's CareerTech Champions.
CareerTech Champions are alumni of the system's programs or student organizations who have found success in a career and attribute much of that success to their career and technology education experience.

According to Carrie DeMuth, E-commerce/ Computer Web Services instructor at Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Omega, the Computer Web Services program targets industrious students, like Kelly, who want to work from home and remain in western Oklahoma.

Kelly decided to enroll at Chisholm Trail after Express Marketing, her previous employer, moved to another state. She chose to return to school instead of relocating.

She said the Computer Web Services program focuses on areas such as creating an online business, Cisco curriculum and how to design a Web site. Kelly enjoys CareerTech programs because they are self-paced and help students focus on their career goals.

“You definitely work at your own pace and the programs are geared towards your career objectives,” she said.

DeMuth said Kelly decided to apply her training and experience in graphic arts and digitizing toward learning the skills necessary to create Web sites.

“Specifically, she wanted to create a Web site to display and market her digitizing designs,” she said. “Creating Web stores can allow individuals, like April, to be self-employed, or they may choose to work for other businesses creating and maintaining their Web sites.”

The Creative Key is not Kelly’s first experience in the world of business. She opened her first e-business, which sold massage products online, during her third semester at Chisholm Trail. The business also sold massage products at a kiosk in Quail Springs Mall, Oklahoma City, throughout the holiday season.

“Customers were surprised to learn that they could access product support information or place their order for a variety of massage products online,” she said.

Kelly and West also give presentations about the Creative Key at the Oklahoma State Fair and other trade shows.

Kelly is also using an articulation agreement with Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa, to gain credit hours towards an associate’s degree in information technology. Upon completion of her CareerTech program, she will have two years to complete the remaining 18 hours of general education credit to receive her associate’s degree.

DeMuth is confident that Kelly, who will be one of the first students to graduate from the CWS program, will succeed in her future endeavors.

"April is the type of student that instructors hate to see leave their program, because of the excitement she generates, but can't wait to witness the success that is sure to follow her into the e-business world,” she said.

Related Links

• Chisholm Trail Technology Center
• Creative Key

posted 5/16/2003