EBCE and Co/Op: Two exciting programs for the class of 2016

Scheduling season is always a busy time of year for Henry Clay students, but for juniors in particular, a huge abundance of choices are made available for their last year of high school. EBCE and Work/Study (or Co/Op) are two programs available for seniors only, and can intertwine the outside world with the walls of HC.
Daniel Brown, a staff member at HC, is in charge of overseeing both programs and designating who would be a right fit for them. He made it an important point to identify the main differences between the two, as they are very different from each other.

“EBCE is when kids intern through the district, where they have over 400 job sites available to them,” Brown said. “They go and shadow in a job field that they’re interested in, where they’re paired up with professionals in that field,” Brown continued. “With Work/Study, the kid gets their own job and they work for a certain number of hours a week and turn in their pay stub to get credit, whereas EBCE, you’re not getting paid for, but you gain that experience.”

Students are graded based on their time spent at their sites. With Co/Op, a student must turn in pay stubs with a certain amount of hours worked. With EBCE, you must keep a journal where you catalog what you do on a day-to-day basis at your site.

Senior Nick Harding, who has EBCE during fifth and sixth hour, believes in the curriculum he’s been taught within the program.
“I’m learning about store management right now at the Morris Book Shop,” Harding said. “I adapt to the environment each time I go out, which helps me in the long run.

Senior Amontae Nash is part of the Co/Op program, and works about fifteen hours a week at the UK merchandise store, Fan Outfitters.
“It’s been very helpful, getting to school at 8:00 and getting to leave at 12:30,” Nash said. “It teaches me skills about money management, time management, and business skills,” Nash continued. “It really helps when you have a job and still have a lot of work to do in school, so I’d recommend it to the juniors this year.”
Harding was adamant in advocating the EBCE program as well, believing it has taught him many things.

“I would do it because you get firsthand experience, plus you don’t have to be in the school for so long every day, which is definitely nice,” Harding said.
If you are a junior looking for more information on EBCE and Co/Op, sign up to see your counselor before the year ends, or talk to Mr. Brown in lab 121.