Page 44 - 2025 Van Buren Chamber Community Profile

EDUCATION

Peak Innovation Center Welcomes

Crawford County Students

Peak Innovation Center opened as teammates, not just on athletic fields “This is what happens when the
in early 2022 to prepare high school as competitors. entire community comes together,”
students for careers in three of the Stephanie Freeman and Amye Director of Career Education and
top demanded fields in the region – Drackett, Career Development District Innovation for Fort Smith
Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare Facilitators for Fort Smith Public Public Schools, Gary Udouj, concluded.
and Information Technology. A Visual Schools, have worked to expand the “Amazing opportunities for students,
Arts component was later added, as appeal to students in other regional families and employers throughout our
well as an Unmanned Aerial Systems districts, and bring other businesses region are being realized now that we
(drones) program. The most recent on board with “work-based learning” are fully up and running.”
addition is Construction Trades, which opportunities. The facility also plays host to
was created for the 2024-2025 school “There is also a lot of effort being several job fairs and community events
year to help meet the need for more put into things like employability throughout the year, giving students
works in the growing industry. training – speaking clearly, preparing and their families opportunities to visit
“Courses offered at the center all a resume, presenting themselves well, the campus and see the technology
have college credit attached, and are etc. – that will give students a better in use there. Students interested in
taught by UA Fort Smith instructors,” shot at landing a job in a field that has attending courses at Peak should
said Terry Morawski, Superintendent of become more and more competitive,” check with their campus counselors for
Fort Smith Public Schools. Drackett added. additional information.
The partnership with UA-Fort Smith
is a key component to the center, which ITEMS WE OFFER:
excites UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley.
“While outcomes for employment • Task Chairs • Office Moves &
are exponentially better for students • Vibe Boards Rearranges
with four-year college degrees, this will • Desking & Storage • Sit to Stand Desks
give students an opportunity to gain • Glass Markerboards
their education in ‘bite-sized’ pieces,”
Riley said. “This gives us a chance
to prepare a stronger workforce and
fill the gap between high school and
career,” she continued.
Riley also sees the center as a
potentially helpful recruiting tool for the 479-650-3228 Kyle@EliteWorkspaceSolutions.com eliteworkspacesolutions.com
university, introducing students from
many area school districts to instructors
and programs offered by the university.
“We can get them to know our
faculty without the intimidating factor
of being on our campus,” she added.
“The Fort Smith region is recognized
within the state of Arkansas as a
community moving forward, and this is
another factor that sets us apart.”
Consolidating the courses to one
site has been a smooth transition and is
providing the opportunity for students
from multiple school districts to interact
with one another in a work environment timsautobodyinc.com

44 Van Buren Chamber 2025 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org