Parkland College welcomes new mobile education unit

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Parkland College has a new mobile education unit, the Cobra Pathfinder, that will be coming to campus and District 505 beginning in fall 2025.

The 36-foot-long mobile unit holds a maximum of six portable, interactive carts with hands-on, career-focused equipment to showcase the various fields Parkland has to offer.

These include automotive, welding, health professions, agriculture, and others.

"The Cobra Pathfinder will further enhance the lives and education of our students, staff, faculty, and members of District 505," said Parkland President Pamela Lau. "Together, through our new Career and Community Engagement department, we are building a better future. I look forward to the Cobra Pathfinder’s success in the years to come."

In Spring 2024, Parkland was awarded the Illinois Community College Board’s Taking Back the Trades grant for the vehicle.

"For many years, Parkland College, along with our district high schools, have been seeking effective ways to introduce students and their families to the variety of career opportunities available after high school," said Parkland's Vice President for Academic Services Nancy Sutton. "With this in mind, we introduced a priority initiative to increase career awareness among students in grades 6 through 12. This initiative led to the development of the Career and Community Engagement department and planning for both a Career Engagement room at Parkland, as well as a mobile career engagement unit."

Both the Cobra Pathfinder and career exploration room will be made available to students, educators, and members of District 505. The mobile education unit will also be used for enrollment efforts, making the process more accessible to students.

"This project has been more than a year in the making, and I’m excited to finally see it come to life," said Director of Career and Community Engagement Cindy Smith. "I’m especially excited to welcome the first students and community members to engage with the Pathfinder. I hope they find the experience fun, educational, and eye-opening."

Smith added, "Our initial goal is to roll out the Cobra Pathfinder in a thoughtful and strategic way, ensuring each stop provides a high-quality, engaging experience for students as they explore potential careers and educational opportunities."