Charles Crane/MDN Chamber Ambassadors join Assistant State Director of Career and Technical Education Mark Wagner, left, Superintendent Mark Vollmer, School Board President Mike Gessner, District 5 Sen. Randy Burckhard as MPS CTE Director Pam Stroklund, right, prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon at a ceremony at the Minot Area Workforce Academy on Tuesday.

Community members and educators gathered Tuesday for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the recently opened Minot Area Workforce Academy on Tuesday and acknowledge the efforts of administrators and legislators to secure funding for the project.

The academy is located in a former Cognizant building that is part of property provided for Minot North High School. The renovation of the facility was funded through $10.3 million in state COVID grants intended to support career and technical education enhancements in schools.

“This is truly a gift, not only for students in Minot and students in the surrounding area, but also for our community,” Vollmer said. “As we move this forward, I want to see this used to its fullest capacity. I want to see this used as a facility for training community members who maybe are temporarily out of a job and need to be retooled. Let’s do what we can do to make this a center that is a celebratory part of the community that is designed to help people and kids.”

The district took possession of the Workforce Academy last Aug. 1, offering courses allowing students to get experience in a variety of trades and fields and even earn licenses and certifications. As an umbrella organization for the career and technical education, the academy provides students access to education in careers in agriculture, aviation, medical and biomedical fields, culinary arts, business and marketing, information technology, early childhood, welding, auto technology, collision and repair and commercial drivers licenses.