TCC Plus 50 Encore Program Aimed At Teaching Baby Boomers New Skills

More and more baby boomers are nearing retirement age. But what about those who aren't ready or just can't retire yet?

If you're among them and want to continue working, you may need to update your skills or change careers completely.

Sandy Carnes is one of those Baby Boomers looking for a new skill set. In fact she made a necklace out of her new word for 2014.

"That's my 2014 goal is to have a Renaissance and to reinvent myself," said Sandy Carnes. "Be something that makes a difference in our world."

She's working on getting into a program like this one eventually to become a physical therapy or occupational therapy tech or assistant.

That's what the Plus 50 Encore Completion program is all about: to give Boomers who want it or need it a restart. Dr. Sarah Plunkett is the Assistant Dean for Health Sciences.

"We have Baby Boomers who've lost their jobs. Their jobs have ended because of technology is outdated, so they need to refresh or get new skills," said Dr. Sarah Plunkett, TCC.

TCC is one of two colleges in Oklahoma participating in this Plus 50 Program, part of a $3.2 million nationwide grant. She told me TCC has 4 to 5 percent of its students in the 50-plus category like Sandy Carnes.

"I'm presently taking medical terminology," Carnes said. The language of a new career.

Carnes has plenty of motivation available. She has three grown daughters and a grandson, all out of the house so there's also time to pursue something new.

"I love this," said TCC student Sandy Carnes. "You can't start the next chapter in your life, if you keep re-reading the last."