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LEWISTOWN -- The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology prides itself on preparing its students for success in tomorrow's careers.
Those words appear in the Academy's mission statement. Now, a variation of that could appear boldly at its front entrance, greeting students, faculty, staff, prospective students and other guests.
School officials unveiled graphics that, if approved, would be installed on the front entrance area and would read, "Welcome to the Academy: Start Here, Go Anywhere." The cost of the project is $6,885.00.
The design for the new graphics was unveiled at the Academy's Operating Committee monthly meeting on Thursday night at the school, located at 700 Pitt St., Lewistown. The graphics would also provide privacy for the inside of the building as people could not see in, but people inside could still see outside.
The Academy is exploring the possibility of using a grant to cover the cost of the project, said Barry King, the Academy's administrative director.
In other news, the Academy will meet with the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation and the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships corporate office to discuss options for the Academy to serve as a regional training site for all Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships technicians with an apprenticeship program through ASE.
Student Tours
During the week of Dec. 11, 2023, the Academy held junior high tours of the facility with more than 500 students visiting their programs. Follow-up, or "Closer Look," tours are scheduled for Jan. 23, 2024, for Juniata County students and Jan. 25, 2024, for Mifflin County students. Following the second tours, students can apply to the Academy from Feb. 1 through March 1. These dates are earlier than in previous years, so that the application process can better align with scheduling by school counselors.
Co-op and Work-Based Learning
The Agriculture Sciences and Culinary Arts programs attended the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Ag Sciences students also attended the Mid-Winter FFA Convention where senior members received their Keystone Degrees and sophomore members received their FFA jackets. Students also observed different aspects of the agriculture industry, including agronomy, food science, horticulture and livestock production.
The Culinary Arts students saw various food demonstrations and learned about how food is grown in Pennsylvania from the many producers that attended, which ranged from growers to beekeepers. They also learned about food processing and value-added products. Additionally:
· The Early Childhood Education students traveled to Lewistown Elementary School to receive professional development for the purpose of implementing lessons that focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
· Sprint car driver Dylan Cisney is scheduled to speak to interested students in the Auto Technology program about working in the different levels of sprint car racing technology.
Maintenance Updates
Sage Communications, of Mount Joy, Lancaster County, is installing a new public address system, using $70,000 in funding from a Pennsylvania Crime and Delinquency grant. Additionally, there was also the following:
· Susquehanna Fire Protection Co., of Dewart, Northumberland County, inspected the culinary arts fire suppression.
· McClure Co., of Harrisburg, has connected and vented the gas line to the renovated greenhouse.
· Upcoming work includes running electrical lines to a new lift in the Collision Repair area and a new wheel balancer in Automotive Technology. The work should be completed in-house, according to King.
District SkillsUSA Competition
The Academy hosted the SkillsUSA District 7 competition for Precision Machining on Thursday. Other events in the SkillsUSA District 7 competition are slated for Tuesday in Altoona. The district winners from each event will move on to the Pennsylvania state competition this spring in Hershey:
Mifflin County High School
· Auto maintenance and light repair - Cole Morrison
· Auto service technology - Grady Fisher
· Baking and pastry - Dekoda Stewart
· Basic health care - Allison Hogle
· Building construction - Tyler Mateer
· Carpentry - Avery Auman
· Collision repair technology - Noah Sharp
· Cosmetology - Makeara Parson
· Courtesy corps - Tatiana Santiago and Hannah Wagner
· Customer service - Evie Riefer
· Early childhood Education - Anthony Schiech
· Electrical wiring construction - Mason Krepps
· Esthetics - Amaya Curry
· Esthetics (model) - Andi Miller
· First aid/CPR - Saren Wray
· Job Skill demonstration A - Zane Green
· Medical assisting - Alyza Hlavaty
· Restaurant service - Jaspe Santiago
Juniata High School
· Industrial motor control - Cadence Gifford
· Nail care (model) - Nevaeh Sheeler
· Precision machining - Austin Anderson
· Related technical math - Derick Rice
East Juniata High School
· Job interview - Danika Lucas
· Nail care - Kayley Dunn
Student Recognition
The following agriculture science students were recognized at the Pennsylvania Farm Show's Mid-Winter FFA Convention:
· Kendra Kohler received a Keystone Degree.
· Phoebe Keiser, Kendra Harlon, Lily Breon and Kelsey Wade received their FFA Jacket recipients.
· Blake Simonton and Brett Zook qualified for the annual Pennsylvania Automobile Association Automotive Competition on Feb. 22, at the Antique Auto Museum in Hershey.
Miscellaneous
· A facilities-use request by the 4-H Rabbit Club for use of the Academy cafeteria on the fourth Tuesday of the month from Jan. 23 to May 28 from 7 to 8 p.m. was approved.
· Chrissie Longacre was approved as a part-time practical nursing instructor pending receipt of all employment paperwork.
· Leah Echard was approved as a substitute practical nursing instructor, pending receipt of all employment paperwork.