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Tri County Technology Center's Business Development Specialist Kyle Ppool said Tuesday that TCT staff have been visiting local high schools they partner with for several weeks now. He said High School Specialist Matthew Songer has been doing a phenomenal job in those high schools as well. Ppool said they have completed their initial high school application process.

Ppool said the numbers look great as their current enrollment came in at approximately 425 students and their number of applicants is at about 500-plus students. He said TCT hopes those numbers convert as they see a tremendous growth in their high school enrollment.

Ppool said they are close to what they normally call 75-percent capacity. He said it is exciting to see the high school students express so much interest in TCT. According to Ppool, part of that interest has to do with the STEM initiatives being pushed in most area schools today.

Bigger schools like Bartlesville High School are able to provide more in-house and more funding for those programs. Ppool said BHS has an extensive program that reaches about 80-percent of their kids. Those smaller schools that do not have the same resources BHS has have an opportunity to involve their kids in STEM initiatives, however, as TCT makes it possible for them to join their STEM requirements for high school students. Ppool said they want to get those students started earlier so they can be on the right path.

Ppool said seeing the growth in high school enrollment makes for exciting times at Tri County Tech.