Columbia City High School hosted the first of its kind for the high school with the Indiana National Guard Career Day, providing students with an opportunity to explore military career pathways and service opportunities.
The innovative event featured five interactive stations hosted by Indiana Army and Air National Guard representatives, allowing students to gain comprehensive insights into military careers, educational benefits, financial support, and service opportunities. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on-site provided students with a tangible connection to military technology and operations.
“This was a fun experience. I’ve never had something like this before. I hopefully want to go into the military to become a nurse and have tuition assistance. I want to become an OBGYN. I’ve always considered military and today helped,” said Jozelyn Alman, Columbia City High School junior student in the Service Academy.
Major Gene Harding, a veteran educator-turned-military, shared his personal perspective: "I had a calling to serve. After 15 years as a teacher, I enlisted in the Guard. My family has served in every war and I’ve always been called to serve with them. You will meet some of the greatest people. You won't find those friendships in the civilian sector."
The Military Appreciation and Career Day was designed to expose students to diverse career opportunities within the Indiana National Guard, highlighting how current academic coursework can directly prepare students for military service, college enrollment, and potential employment.
“As the State of Indiana moves to a new diploma with the current eighth-grade class, WCCS is in the position to support enrollment, enlistment and employment even more by sharing opportunities with students. We wanted to expose students to the options they have available to them through an enlistment route. There are careers through enlistment and many students don’t even know it’s an option,” said Kristin Rentschler, CCHS Service Academy Coach and Indiana Department of Education Board Member. “My job as an educator is to make sure students understand opportunities and open doors for future options. This just gives them another doorway they can go through.”
The event marks a significant milestone as the first such partnership in the region, demonstrating Whitley County Consolidated Schools' innovative approach to career preparation.
Planning for the event began when Rentschler attended an education roundtable at the Air Base in Fort Wayne as an Indiana Department of Education Board Member.
“When I was approached as a teacher about how the military can recruit differently, I encouraged them to look at careers. The idea that students can use enlistment to help with employment and enrollment goals helps connect the certifications students are already earning through their Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. From there we started planning with the Indiana Guard. We’re really hoping this event is used to work out any kinks, make improvements, and then copy the event across the state,” Rentschler said.
Thank you, Indiana Military Guard for sharing your careers with our Columbia City High School students.
