A Career in a Year? RIVEROAK shows us how

By Tami Stevenson

Giving students and adults exposure to all of the various careers that are available in the North Florida area, RIVEROAK Technical College held their annual Career Fair and Program Showcase, Thursday, February 13.

     They highlighted their 20 post secondary career certificate programs, providing demonstrations and information for students and adults, alike.

     Over 70 businesses, industries, military branches and law enforcement were also on campus. Some were hiring and giving bonuses.

A group of students making their way around the room that featured law enforcement, military and first responders during RIVEROAK’S Career Day. -SVT Photo

     They decided just two days before the event to move everything inside because of wind and pending rain in the forecast. Some vendors told event coordinator Tracey Henderson they actually liked it better inside.

       Each room on campus was filled with instructors, students and adult visitors curious about the programs being offered at the college.

     Welding instructor Kevin Mercer wanted readers to meet two outstanding students,  Sam LeNeave and Paul Schmitz. They are in their second year at RIVEROAK.

Welding students Paul Schmitz, left, and Sam LeNeave. Both are from Live Oak and in their second year in the class. LeNeave decided he wanted to do something to keep busy and was always interested in learning more about welding so he visited RIVEROAK to check out their welding program. He brought along his friend, Paul Schmitz. Schmitz is a retired certified welder, and was curious to see what they are teaching now days. The two men liked what they saw and each decided to sign up. Schmitz turns 90 next month, and LeNeave is 87 - proof one is never too old to learn new things. -SVT Photo

     Both men agreed that being around young people makes them feel younger and they love helping other students.

     Robin Hall, Licensed Practical Nursing instructor, has been teaching for three years but has been a nurse for 42 years. Hall said she enjoys teaching. “It’s been a nice break from the clinical side of nursing. The hours are great. It’s enthusiastic to see new people excited about learning and nursing.”

     Nearly all of the healthcare classrooms had mannequin patients lying in beds.

     Hall said some of them are automated. They breathe, cough, moan, groan and even yell, saying things like, ‘I’m in pain!’

     “We can program them to do different things for different scenarios.”

     They currently have around 40 LPN students, two classes going alternately, one starts in January and the other starts in August. It is an 11 month program.

Patient Care Technician Instructor Kyla Bispham, center, with dual enrolled students from Suwannee High, Courtney Neal, left, and Edwin Rodriguez. -SVT Photo

     When RIVEROAK advertises a career in a year, it’s not hyperbole, it’s a fact. In almost every program they offer, students can earn their credentials in a year or less.

     Becoming a surgical technician, for instance, can be accomplished in 11 months as well. This career has a wide scope of professions they can assist surgeons with. AND RECEIVE THE SAME CREDENTIALS AS A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

     A surgical tech can work in any kind of surgery setting, including traditional and specialized hospital surgeries, dentistry and even the veterinary field.

     Mary Vickers, RIVEROAK’S surgical tech instructor, is a certified surgical technologist. Vickers says she loves both aspects. “I love both, I like the teaching aspect. There are days where I do miss scrubbing into surgery, but getting to be their mentor and preceptor and teach them in the things I was taught, just feels full circle.” She added, “And now I love teaching.”

Melissa Riccio and Becca Dantzler performing a mock exploratory laparotomy to explore the abdomen. Riccio and Dantzler will graduate in July of this year. -SVT Photo

Mock exploratory surgery. -SVT Photo

Joy Jenkins, left, with Gabby Colon, both of Lake City, practicing handing off instruments correctly. -SVT Photo

     Their cosmetology department is going strong. Instructor Aubrey Wilson, of Live Oak, says this is her first year teaching. She graduated from the program about five years ago at RIVEROAK.

     They offer their services to the public at a discounted price from regular salons because they are students and still learning.

     Their hours are Tuesday thru Friday between 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

     Wilson said, “They get out of school at 2:00 so we don’t take clients past 12 o’clock.”

Cosmetology Instructor Aubrey Wilson looks through the schedule. This is her first year teaching. She graduated from the program about five years ago at RIVEROAK. -SVT Photo

     Everyone at RIVEROAK is looking forward to a new healthcare building coming to the college.

  In August of 2023, Senator Corey Simon and State Representative Jason Shoaf, presented RIVEROAK with a check from the state of Florida for $4M to expand their healthcare programs by adding a new building to the college, which could double or triple the number of students in healthcare programs.

     “I’ve been told that everything has been turned into the Department of Education, so we are hoping to have a ground-breaking ceremony within the next month or so,” said RIVEROAK Principal and Director Mary Keen. “We want to ensure that Senator Simon and Representative Shoaf are able to attend the groundbreaking.”

     Once the building is completed, hopefully by fall of next year, they can pursue their bridge program to the American Society of Registered Nurses (ASRN).

     Keen also said they are still pursuing additional funding for another building to offer manufacturing. “We want to continue to grow and be able to offer semi-conductor training as well as expand our HVAC program.”

     She wanted to thank everyone involved with RIVEROAK’s Career Fair and Program Showcase event this year.

     “I also want to give accolades to Tracey Henderson,” Keen said. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.” She taught adult education at RIVEROAK and retired. Now she facilitates events. Keen added, “We have amazing faculty, staff and students here. I’m just blessed.”

    Anyone looking for a new career, no matter the age (Paul Schmitz and Sam LeNeave are proof of that), should contact RIVEROAK to see all of what they have to offer.

     RIVEROAK is located at 415 Pinewood Drive in Live Oak. Their phone number is 386-647-4200.

Electrical student Andrew Evans of Lake City, overseeing a challenge for visitors to try and get the copper wire around the copper tubing without touching the sides. -SVT Photo

Electrical student Kyle Schultz from Live Oak, trying out the racing simulator. He says it’s finicky but when it works it’s fun! -SVT Photo

K-9 Blaze, 2 years old, with K-9 Officer Omar Colon. They came from Taylor County to participate in Career Day at RIVEROAK. They had planned to do some demonstrations, but was canceled due to the weather. -SVT Photo