2021 NTO Photo Project

Welcome to the 2021 Non-Traditional Occupations (NTO) Photo Project! Our motto is “Dare to Be Different,” and we are certainly doing something different this year with a new virtual format for the Mid-State Technical College NTO Photo Project.

What are Non-Traditional Occupations? NTO careers are defined as occupations in which 75 percent or more of the workforce is of the opposite gender, for example, women in welding, criminal justice, or engineering; males in nursing or early childhood education.

This year the NTO Photo Project highlighted females in our criminal justice programs: Criminal Justice-Studies and Corrections & Community Advocacy. We are proud of the students who participated and hope you enjoy this virtual experience!

Kay Grundhoffer & Lea Merkel
Mid-State Technical College NTO Coordinators

Highlighting Females in Criminal Justice

Law enforcement agencies across the country could benefit from more women in their ranks. According to the Police Employee Data published by the FBI, in 2018 women made up just over 12 percent of the police officers in the United States. Not only do they need more women to support and sustain the numbers of future law enforcement officers, women bring unique and valuable qualities to the profession.

Ivonne Roman, a retired police chief in Newark, New Jersey, listed the following characteristics of women police officers in an article for Police Chief magazine:

• High levels of interpersonal communication skills
• Calming effects in stressful and dangerous environments allowing them to defuse aggressive behavior
• High perceived levels of trustworthiness
• Less likely to use excessive force

In efforts to support women pursuing careers in law enforcement and criminal justice fields, the Mid-State NTO program hosted three events this year. These events, along with some scenario-based exercises, were captured in the photos here. All of the events encompassed the spirit of NTO through the encouragement and support of females in Mid-State’s criminal justice programs.

Schmeeckle Reserve Scavenger Hunt

The goals of the Scavenger Hunt were to decipher clues and practice observation skills as a team. Teams of two students paired up to collaborate and find clues to complete a scavenger hunt. They were required to use their critical thinking skills and navigate through each clue. Competition certainly played a role as the teams raced against the clock and each other to claim victory. 

NTO Bowling Event

The intention of the bowling event was to promote team building and collaboration. Participants used physical strength, agility, and coordination to compete while focusing on social skills. To be successful they had to demonstrate support and encouragement by cheering on their partners. They learned that strikes are to be celebrated, and there is no shame in the occasional gutter ball!

Healthy Meal Event

NTO criminal justice students attended a hands-on learning opportunity hosted by Mid-State’s instructor of Hospitality Management, Paul Kennedy. They learned how to create a healthy meal by focusing on all aspects of balanced nutrition. Not only does is relate to their future profession by teaching them how to prepare a protein-packed meal to sustain them physically in the long shifts they will likely endure, they also learned a valuable lesson in being part of a team. Regardless of the role assigned to them in the process of creating the meal, they learned that their role matters and is significant!  It may not be the most glamorous or the most praise-worthy task (i.e., dicing onions), but it is necessary for a successful (or in this case, delicious) outcome!  In the criminal justice field, when assigned a task that you feel is less significant, it is always important to remember you are part of a team that has a bigger and more important end-goal.

Scenarios at Mid-State Technical College

These photos represent a day in the life of a Criminal Justice-Studies student!

Snapshots of some of our participating NTO students