The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Development Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, April 6 at 4 pm.

Arlene Stauffer called the meeting to order.

The Chamber is collecting door prizes for their Support Staff Reception that will be held on Thursday, April 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Chamber Office.

Members then provided their updates.

Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) Superintendent Traci Thorpe provided an update.

PTC is currently in enrollment season and gearing up for next school year.

This is competition season as well for many state competitions and potential national competitions.

Culinary students competed in the State Restaurant Association’s Pro-Start Cooking Competition and won first place. They will move onto Washington D.C. to compete in the national event in May.

PTC will also bring area third graders to tour the facility.

Graduations are coming up and will be consolidated in the new conference center.

PTC has also sent out information about their new presentation called “The Hero Effect” by speaker Kevin Brown on May 24 from 11 am to 1 pm. The cost is $20 with lunch included.

PTC is gearing up for their various summer camps and academies. They will soon have flyers with additional information.

PTC’s health career programs will change with a pathway to practical nursing for high school seniors.

PTC will be changing their fleet facilities maintenance program from a shop environment to a more “on-the job” training service.

They also plan to set up a “flex-lab” for customized training for business and industry. This will include hi-tech equipment such as laser and robotics welders.

Sheri Snyder and Dr. Rick Edgington provided an updated for Northern Oklahoma College (NOC).

NOC is wrapping up the school year, and academic award receptions will being next week.

Commencement will be on Saturday, May 6, with finals following the next week.

NOC’s livestock judging team in Tonkawa has been named the National Team of the Year. The team’s coach, Jennifer Bedwell, was named Coach of the Year. She is the first female to be awarded the title.

Since the start of the pandemic, NOC has shared information about concurrent enrollment with parents in Kay County and discussed the junior/senior scholarships. NOC has also been going into high schools to assist students in enrolling in their concurrent classes. Last fall, NOC had 86 Ponca City High School students taking courses.

Robyn Armstrong, CEO of University Center (UC), have opened summer and fall enrollment this month.

McCord Public Schools Superintendent/Principal Brandie Choate provided an update.

April is testing month with third graders testing on April 17, and fourth, fifth and sixth graders testing on April 20.

Field trips are also happening throughout April.

The last day of school will be May 19.

Volunteer Sue Lunsford shared Community Health Foundation will be holding their Meals to Heal on Saturday, April 22 at City Central at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $50.

Interim Chamber CEO Tiffany Hermann provided her Chamber update.

A ribbon cutting will be held for Heritage Title of Oklahoma at 300 Fairview Avenue, Suite 3 at 10 am on Monday, April 10.

A lunch and learn over public speaking will be held on Tuesday, April 11 at Pioneer Technology Center (PTC). The lunch and learn is $10 and will feature Mayor Homer Nicholson speaking on the way to improve a presentation as both a speaker and a host.

The Chamber is collecting door prizes still for their Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) Support Staff Reception which will be held on Thursday, April 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Chamber Office. This event sees between 150 and 160 people come through. Deadline for any donation items is 5 pm on Wednesday, April 12.

A ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, April 14 for the Ponca City Senior Center’s grand opening at 4 pm.

The next Party at the Palace Auction meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 19 at 4 pm at Fraizer’s. The focus of this meeting will be on securing sponsorships for the event.

The next Business After Hours will be hosted by Titan Title & Closing at the Ponca City Country Club on Thursday, April 27 from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Ponca Politics will host its last Legislative Forum for this session on Friday, April 28 at noon at City Hall.

Shelley Arrott, Tiffany Hermann and Kelly Cross will be attending the MAKO Conference in Branson, Missouri from May 1 to May 3.

A ribbon cutting will be held on Thursday, May 4 at 9 am for the grand opening of Goodwill Industries at 2808 N. 14th.

The 36th Ponca City Leadership Class will have their graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 4 at 6 pm at the Ponca City Country Club. The cost is $40.

A ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, May 5 at 10 am for US Cellular at their new store location at 2412 N. 14th.

Another ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, May 5 at 2 pm for The Doodle Academy’s five year anniversary at 103 E. Grand Avenue.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 4 at 4 pm.