NCTA plans open houses

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Scholarship drawings, campus tours, lunch, and faculty and student dialogs will be among the offerings as high school students "Discover Their Way at NCTA" during open house events this fall at the Curtis campus.

The University of Nebraska-Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) opens its doors to potential students for public tours and discussions about college programs on Saturday, Oct. 12, and Monday, Nov. 11, said Tina K. Smith, CTA Admissions and Recruiting Coordinator.

"We look forward to hosting prospective students at an open house here on campus this fall, and then again in the spring," said Smith. A highlight this year will be a $500 scholarship drawing at each open house for students who submit paid applications to enroll in classes for Spring, 2014 or for the 2014-15 school year. Spring Open Houses will be March 10 and April 12 2014.

Students, families, guidance counselors and teachers are invited to participate in the daylong activities. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by break-out sessions for individual areas of study, tours of the campus, buildings and dormitories, and opportunity for preliminary academic guidance from division heads, Smith said. Lunch will be served for students.

Information on campus resources, including costs and financial assistance will be available. In the past three years, more than 90 percent of NCTA's students have received financial aid. Of those, the average grant or scholarship has exceeded tuition costs by about $1,400, leaving funds for housing and books.

NCTA, which celebrated its Centennial anniversary in August, offers majors in agribusiness, horticulture, veterinary technology, and agricultural production systems. Also, concentrations within those majors include irrigation technician, welding and diesel mechanics.

A new program for fall, 2014 will be training Veterinary Technicians in a Comparative Medicine program headquartered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus in Omaha. An NCTA open house at UNMC in Omaha will be held this fall.