Students interested in pursuing specialized career and technical training can learn more about programs offered at the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School at an open house/program showcase event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The showcase at 210 Campus Lane in Butler Township is open to Vo-Tech students, grades eight to 11, and their families, along with prospective students and their families seeking to learn more about what the school has to offer.

“Our Open House Program Showcase is a night for a couple different things,” said Ashlee Lamenza, administrative assistant at the school

“It's for prospective students and parents to ask those questions that they might be nervous to ask, or are not real sure what to ask. And also, it is for current students and their parents to talk over what is going on in their students' classrooms. That's why it's an open house/program showcase — it's a little bit of both.”

Students can stop in to explore presentations from the school's 15 programs of study and can attend as many presentations as they desire. If they are interested in taking classes at the school, they can enroll through their schools or through the vo-tech website.

The school offers programs in the fields of air conditioning/heating/electrical, automotive technology, building construction, carpentry, collision repair, computer networking and security, cosmetology, culinary arts, graphic design, health assistant, heavy equipment, machine technology, protective services, sports medicine and welding.

At the event, administrators and teachers will be available to answer questions.

“Each program is different in and of itself,” Lamenza said. “We might have some instructors give a little bit of a demonstration, and others might give a little more of a walk-through and tour of their program and what it involves.”

Lamenza said the open house program helps to clear up confusion that students might have about the process of enrolling and taking classes at the school.

“It's more informational, and (helps) to basically see what the vo-tech is about, and to ease those thoughts of “not real sure,'” she said. “They can come in and find out what those areas of uncertainty are, and see how many programs we offer. Sometimes, it helps students to see what their choices are.”

One particular question the event hopes to clear up: the career possibilities that can accompany an education in trades.

“It doesn't mean that if you come to the vo-tech you can't go to college. They can do that as well,” Lamenza said. “Learning a trade can be used in many areas and many ways.”