Senior Louis Kippley, a student in Mr. Dory’s Career Exploration Class, has learned invaluable life lessons through the program.

Kippley learned about the class sophomore year and thought it would be the best option for him. He knew he was going to work in the trades for his career, so he could benefit greatly from the program.

“Hearing that I would be able to explore different career paths and leave second-semester senior year for an apprenticeship, I was very excited to join,” said Kippley.

Throughout his two years in the program, Kippley enjoyed the time in the classroom. Mr. Dory brought a positive attitude and enthusiastic energy to the class. Through his life experiences, students were able to learn from him while also having fun. During class discussions, Kippley gained knowledge that he could take with him for the rest of his life.

“Mr. Dory brought a very positive energy and a lot of life experience that made class time lots of fun. Being able to have class discussions about different topics was extremely beneficial in learning about making positive changes to our lives,” said Kippley.

Kippley works at Sinkler Heating and Cooling and leaves school around 1 o’clock to start his afternoon at work. The majority of his job is spent burning out ductwork for various jobs around the community. The work that he does ranges from small sheds to Culver’s locations around town.

Kippley plans on going into the HVAC program at NWTC for an associate’s degree, and this has been his goal for the past three years.

“HVAC has been my passion ever since I began working in the field, and I don’t plan to change my career path anytime soon,” he said.

Through the Career Explorations Class, Kippley has had the opportunity to see a plethora of career paths. He has also been able to learn about different habits and mentalities that he can carry through life long after graduation. If he had to choose whether or not to do the program again, his decision would be easy.

“Being able to go on field trips to see various careers gave us a lot of experience that we wouldn’t get in any other class. I would definitely recommend this program to any sophomore who is willing to put in a lot of work but receive a great reward in the end. If I could go back and do it all again, I would,” said Kippley.