LOCAL AUTO DEALERS CONCLUDE MENTORING OF POLYTECH STUDENTS

Flemington and Clinton Car dealerships mentored 8 Polytech Automotive Technology students through the CARS mentoring program (Careers in Auto Repair and Service) recently. 

Students in the week-long program interviewed, completed an application and signed a contract with their parents and employer.  Paired with professional mentors who provide guidance and final evaluations, they experienced all facets of the day to day automotive business and service operations.  Participating in the program were James Ham, Jon Webb, Cody Swift and Michael Trauch from Delaware Valley High School and Hunterdon Central High School students Steven Parcel, Ryan Lettieri, Michael Litchfield and Sean Quinlan.    

“These dealerships provide an invaluable opportunity for our students to work as team members and use their skills in a professional environment” said Dennis Sienicki, 27 year teaching veteran.  “Most students that leave this program will land jobs locally. We started the program in 1996 and it’s proven to be so successful for both our students and local businesses.  The support the community provides to our program is unbelievable.”

The program concludes with an awards luncheon on April 18 th at Polytech Careers Café on the Central Campus.  Mentors, students, parents, teachers and administrators will be invited.  

POLYTECH RECEIVES A MOST SPECIAL STUDENT VISIT

The students in special education teacher Ms. Kellyanne Kieffer’s community-based instruction program at North Hunterdon High School look forward to their once a month visit with Elaine DiBenedetto’s 2 nd year Polytech cosmetology class. 

This may seem routine but to Ms. Kieffer’s students these special visits are life lessons in socialization, articulation and confidence.  While her North Hunterdon students are practicing “life” skills and catching up with their cosmetology buddies, the Polytech students are practicing their “salon” skills including hair cuts, braids, manicures, shampooing and facials. 

Ms. Kieffer explains “we started these visits last year and it was so successful.  My students are thrilled every time we go.  You don’t realize how positive this experience is for them.  Watching them enter the room and walk away from me and my staff is a tremendous progressive step.   They ask for certain students and have made true connections with the stylists.  I can’t say enough great things about these Polytech students.  They are a remarkable group of young adults.”

COMMERCIAL ART STUDENTS WIN PRESTIGIOUS GOVERNOR’S AND VSA AWARDS

Stephen Winchell a Pittstown senior at Delaware Valley and Shawna Snopek a Glen Gardner senior at Voorhees won both the 2008 Governor’s Award in Art Education and the Arts Excellence Award from the VSA arts of New Jersey.  Stephen won for graphic design and Shawna won for fine arts. 

Stephen also won the Hunterdon County Distinguished Student Award and has been accepted to the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the best art schools in the world.

A panel of professional artists nominated them for the 2008 NJ Governor’s Award after they won the VSA Art Excellence Award.  The students completed a drawing activity onsite to win both awards and they will be honored at ceremonies in May.  

The VSA is a national organization that promotes and supports artists with disabilities.  The Governor’s Award in Arts Education promotes awareness and appreciation for the arts by honoring individuals and classified students who have achieved national/state recognition in the arts and attend schools in New Jersey.