Sentinel photo by TYLER RUPERT
Present for the announcement of a $3 million grant to the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology are, from left, state Reps. Kerry Benninghoff and John Hershey, Academy Principal Norma O’Brien, Grace Dunigan from the governor’s office, Rep. Fred Keller, school board members Fred Nickel and Diane Stewart, Superintendent Vance Varner, board member Mark Baker, Director of Adult Education Mike McMonigal and Executive Director Daniel Potutschnig.

LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology held a meeting Wednesday to announce the acquisition of a $3 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant.

Mike McMonigal, supervisor of adult education, opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and showing his gratitude for the attendees before showing the group a virtual tour of the new facilities to be built from the grant.

The $3 million grant is to be used to add diesel engine and heavy equipment programs that require a massive 35,000-square-foot facility. They will also be adding more than 100 additional parking spaces. The Encore room was filled with students, two from each program, staff, local business owners, local officials as well as state and federal officials.

The local business owners partnered with leadership at the school to promise jobs at their companies after graduation.

“These businesses played a key role in getting the grant. A project this size would be nearly impossible without the support of multiple organizations,” McMonigal said.

Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA12) joined the celebration to talk about infrastructure and sustaining opportunities for families in Central Pennsylvania.

“It is important for students leaving and entering the work force to have the training they need to sustain our infrastructure and support our communities to really thrive here,” Keller said. “It’s nice to see the tax payer dollars come back into the community in the form of grants like this one.”

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Bellefonte) was instrumental in the acquisition of the EDA grant. He said, “If you learn to work with your hands you are always going to have a job, especially specialized work such as diesel mechanics. At the end of the days, for those of you getting an opportunity to watch students, this is a great opportunity to see what our schools are about.”

State Rep. John Hershey (R-Mifflintown) stated that this area bleeds young adults and that this is a great opportunity to keep them from moving out of state. These new programs will offer students the ability to get the good jobs that we have right here in Central Pennsylvania. Hershey said having these programs to get these students ready is a very powerful thing for our communities.

Sen. Bob Casey submitted a video message congratulating the school for their success, which they played for the group.

Grace Dunigan from the office of Gov. Tom Wolf spoke on the governor’s behalf. She said since Wolf’s election in 2014, his focus has been schools, especially technical schools like the Academy. She says education is, and has been for 50 years, the cornerstone of our commonwealth. Wolf applauded the faculty and staff for their hard work and the Academy for their success in securing this grant.

The Academy’s executive director, Daniel Potutschnig, closed the celebration by verbally thanking everyone involved in the efforts.

The Academy Foundation believes that better lives and a stronger economy are created through education. Educators and employees at The Academy have made an extraordinary investment in our community by helping students learn knowledge, skills, and behaviors they need to successfully contribute to Mifflin County, the Juniata River Valley and the Commonwealth.