CINCINNATI – Purcell Marian High School is launching the Cavalier Career Initiatives Program (CCIP) and has hired seasoned Catholic educator Chris Wilke as director. Wilke will oversee the new program that is focused on the areas of Construction Management, Healthcare, Information Technology, Green Technology including Environmental Studies, Horticulture, and Forestry, and Pre-Education/Teaching.

The program’s purpose is to expose students to career-related studies, thereby propelling them further down the path to self-actualization and personal fulfillment in a way that enriches their four years in high school and adds value to their studies. The CCIP will include elective class options, field experiences, project-based work with partner organizations, summer internships, instruction from experts in various career pathways, and a four-year portfolio sequence that will positively impact all students.

A Cincinnati native, Wilke was most recently at DePaul Christo Rey High School, where he served as principal and director of curriculum for the corporate work student program. He previously served as the dean of academics at Moeller High School and taught at Purcell Marian, where he also served in various administrative positions. Wilke has his master’s in education administration from Xavier University and earned his bachelor’s in history from the University of Dayton.

"We are redefining the educational experience for Purcell Marian students," says Wilke. “The Cavalier Career Initiatives Program is designed for students to explore areas of potential future employment in a variety of different fields. We believe in the creative capabilities and intellectual prowess of our students.”

To date, partner organizations include:

• Cincinnati State University,
• Halpin Plumbing, and
• Northern Kentucky University.

“This program is unlike anything Purcell Marian has done, or frankly any school in our region has accomplished and is a strategic component for 3E Guarantee mission. We were fortunate to be able to hire a 20+ year veteran like Chris to lead these efforts. His leadership and pedigree are second to none, and I am confident he will be a change agent for Purcell Marian,” says CEO/Principal Andy Farfsing.