Area Career Center (Hammond)

08/20/2026

05/29/2026

Wrapping up the school year with one final field experience from May 20th as our Hammond Area Career Center Culinary Arts students visited McDonald’s Hamburger University.

Students had the opportunity to tour the facility, learn about the day-to-day operations and responsibilities of restaurant owners and team members, and explore the many career opportunities available within the company. They also visited the test kitchen and archive section, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and history behind one of the world’s most recognized brands.

To finish the experience, students enjoyed lunch and had the opportunity to try menu items inspired by McDonald’s locations from around the world, giving them a look at how menus and flavors can vary across different countries and cultures.

Experiences like this continue to help connect classroom learning with real-world industry exposure and career pathways in hospitality and foodservice.

05/27/2026

🚑🎉 Congratulations to our students who have earned their National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Certification! 🎉🚑

Through hard work, dedication, and countless hours of training, these students have achieved an incredible milestone and are now prepared to serve their communities in emergency medical care.

We are proud of their commitment to helping others and wish them continued success as they begin their careers in Emergency Medical Services. Thank you for choosing a profession dedicated to saving lives and making a difference every day! 👏🏽



Featured left to right: Julia Zamudio (Highland), Ethan Warstbaugh (Griffith), Cheyanne Brand (Lake Central), Michelle Pugh (Munster), Kyla Caulfield (Lake Central), Joel Morales Chavez (Hammond Central)

05/27/2026

On the 19th, our Culinary Arts program at Hammond Area Career Center had the honor of preparing and serving Hammond’s Top 20 Dinner for students from Hammond Central High School and Morton High School.

We have been so busy in the kitchen and classroom that we are just now getting a chance to share highlights from this special event. Our students truly stepped up in every way, from preparation and table setup to service and full ex*****on of a fine dining experience.

Menu highlights included:

Mixed Rolls with Compound Butter

Salad Course
Mixed Greens with Berries, Candied Pecans, and Feta
Balsamic Vinaigrette

Entrée
Mozzarella and Parmesan Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast with Onion Cream Sauce

Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon Fat
Brown Sugar Candied Carrots

Dessert
Mexican Chocolate Cake with Cinnamon Icing and Mexican Cookie Crumbs
Lemon Panna Cotta

We were proud to feature Libbey plates, flatware, and goblets, which elevated the presentation and overall dining experience.

A special thank you to our students for their professionalism, teamwork, and attention to detail throughout the entire event. It was also great to welcome back alumni who came in to support and work alongside our current students.

Moments like this reflect the strength of our program and the community that continues to support it.

05/22/2026

⚡👏 Student Spotlight! 👏⚡

Congratulations to Emily Esparza from Morton High School for her hard work in the Electrical Industrial Maintenance Technician program at the Area Career Center!

Emily returned to the ACC this year in the Work-Based Learning program, where she was placed with the Hammond Public Works Department. There, she has been gaining valuable hands-on experience in the electrical and industrial maintenance field.

Emily recently completed the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Education and Training Certification process — a great accomplishment that shows her dedication to her future career! ⚡🔧🌎

We wish Emily the best of luck in her application process to the IBEW and look forward to seeing all she accomplishes in the future! 🎉

05/18/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Welding students! 🎉

We are proud to announce that 18 students successfully tested and earned their American Welding Society (AWS) Welding Certification! 👏🔥

This achievement reflects the students’ hard work, dedication, and commitment to developing industry-level welding skills that will prepare them for successful careers in the skilled trades.

Please join us in congratulating these students on this outstanding accomplishment!

AM Class Pictured: Matthew Pritchard, Reagan Klapak, Samara Kelm, Melina Mata, Jacqueline Vega, Cesar Lagunas, Jaden Starkey
PM Class Pictured: Laith Azar, Brayden Hastings, Santino Cervera, Xavier Pugh, Robert Ramirez, Henry Zgobica, Lincoln Dannis

05/15/2026

Whiting Middle/High School is incredibly proud to celebrate four of Whiting’s finest — Aaron Jimenez, Lucy Zoliner, Kailey Kidd, and Lisa Nohl — for qualifying for the SkillsUSA National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia this June!

These talented students earned the opportunity to compete on the national stage while proudly representing Whiting and the Area Career Center (Hammond)

During the first week of June, Aaron, Lucy, Kailey, and Lisa will travel to Atlanta to compete for a National Championship and showcase the creativity, leadership, dedication, and hard work that make Whiting proud.

The students still need to raise approximately $1,200 to help cover travel and competition expenses. Any support from our Whiting community would mean the world to these students and their families.

If you would like to donate or help support these amazing students, please contact Mrs. Bernardi at [email protected] or call 219-659-0255.

Let’s make this happen for these four outstanding students as they represent Whiting High School on the national stage!

05/15/2026

🎉👏🏾AREA CAREER CENTER STUDENT HONORED WITH NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP!👏🏾🎉

Congratulations to Londyn Laseter from Whiting High School for being awarded a $1000 scholarship from the National Technical Honor Society.

Londyn is a Radio & TV Capstone student and was one of 275 outstanding NTHS members nationwide to receive the Jon H. Poteat Scholarship. Recipients are selected based on their ability to consistently exemplify the 7 attributes of NTHS – Skill, Honesty, Service, Responsibility, Scholarship, Citizenship, and Leadership.

We are proud of Londyn's hard work and dedication and look forward to all she will accomplish in the future!

05/12/2026

What a great evening celebrating our students at the Hammond Area Career Center Culinary Arts second annual End of the Year Dinner at Rosebud Steakhouse.

We recognize the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of students who represented our program at the state level for SkillsUSA and the World Food Championships Jr. competitions this year. Their commitment, passion, and professionalism continue to make our program proud.

A special thank you to owner Chef Steve Coppolillo, Executive Chef and Culinary Arts alumni Brian Abbott, and the entire team at Rosebud Steakhouse for hosting us and continuing to support the next generation of culinary professionals. It is always meaningful to see our alumni giving back and helping inspire current students.

We would also like to thank South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Phil Tailon for joining us and supporting career and technical education and culinary arts opportunities for students in Northwest Indiana.

Congratulations to all of our students on an outstanding year. We are proud of everything you have accomplished and look forward to what’s ahead.

05/11/2026

Last Friday was an exciting day at the Area Career Center as students took part in both our Career Fair and Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) event!💼🚑🚨

Our AM students had the opportunity to connect with more than 25 employers to learn about careers, job opportunities, and future pathways. Thank you to all of the vendors who took the time to speak with and inspire our students.

In the afternoon, our PM students participated in a simulated Mass Casualty Incident event that showcased teamwork and hands-on learning across programs. Criminal Justice students worked to search for and apprehend the culprits, while Emergency Medical Services students searched throughout the building to locate and assist injured bystanders. The realistic injuries were created by our talented Cosmetology students, helping bring the simulation to life.

Thank you to all of the students, staff, and community partners who helped make this event a success!