Sentinel file photo by LIV SUYDAM The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology held its Operating Committee meeting on Thursday.

LEWISTOWN — The cooperative education program at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology in Lewistown continues to thrive as a growing number of students are working for employers within the Juniata River Valley.

The goal of the co-op program is not only to prepare students for eventual employment in the workforce but to keep them working in this community.

Principal Mark Crosson shared this information with the Operating Committee during its monthly meeting on Thursday night.

“We’re really excited,” Crosson said, speaking about the numbers. “I think what I’m most excited about is the 20 different employers that we’re working with, but we’re also in line for four new ones.”

The four new employers are Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., Lake Collision Center, 2A Electric and Brenner Credit Services, Crosson said.

Last year, Crosson said the Academy ended the year with 43 co-op students. “We’re going really well,” he said.

According to the latest numbers released by the school at the meeting, a total of 31 Academy students are currently on co-op. Breaking down the students by programs:

-Health professions — 11 students

-Electrical installations — 8 students

-Welding — 5 students

-Early childhood education — 2 students

-Auto mechanics — 1 student

-Collision repair — 1 student

-Construction trades — 1 student

-Mechatronics — 1 student

-Precision machining — 1 student

Businesses where students are working include: Metzler Forest Products, Regester Chevrolet Body Shop, Edmiston Construction, Hide-N-Seek Christian Day Care, Trego Electric, 4 Seasons Energy Solutions, Lepley Electric, Sunderland Electric, Mid-State Electric and X-Pert Communication.

Also included are Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital, Geisinger Clinic Reedsville, Geisinger Care Works, Greenwood Village, FoxPro, Quality Machining, Maines Roofing, Jay Fulkroad and Sons, Hostetler Truck Bodies and Trailers and Summit Academy Pre-K Counts.

Crosson said an additional electrical installation student is still being placed, and a welding student may be placed at Metzler Forest Products welding the excavation equipment.

The Academy is looking to place a student at Brenner Car Credit and Lake Collision Center, while several other students are currently looking for a site.

Finally, there are 35 early childhood education students completing an unpaid internship — field experience — at Summit Academy Pre-K Counts. Students working on obtaining their Child Development Associate (CDA) are required to have 480 hours of professional work experience with children in the past three years. The unpaid internship helps students reach the hours needed.

Field trips and events

The Academy reported the following field trips and events to the Operating Committee:

-Big Valley FFA on Oct. 7, 2025, Career and Technical Student Organization — Nicolette Cusate escorted Big Valley FFA students to the Blair County Convention Center to participate in career planning workshops for FFA members;

-All Programs on Oct. 3, 2025, Career Development — Jennifer Dressler and Bryan Boyd escorted students to the South Hills School of Business and Technology to showcase post-secondary school options;

-Big Valley FFA on Sept. 25, 2025, Competition — Nicolette Cusate escorted Big Valley FFA students to the Huntingdon County Fairgrounds to compete in agriculture-related contests in wildlife, vet science and livestock;

-Electrical Occupations on Oct. 24, 2025, Career Development — Steve Hogle will escort Electrical Occupations to Penn College for a college tour; and

-Health Professions on Oct. 31, 2025, Career Development — Jillian Wright and Jennifer Dressler will escort Health Professions students on a tour of Penn College to explore post-secondary options.

Contracts and agreements

The Operating Committee approved practical nursing agreements with both the Mifflin County and Greenwood school districts. The agreement allows nursing students of the PN Academy program to rotate with a school nurse during their Term 4 clinical rotations. This will provide the students an additional clinical rotation meeting the program learning outcomes for pediatrics and community health.

Personnel

The Operating Committee approved a salary scale adjustment for Michelle Wagner on Step 3 Vocational II Certification at a salary of $56,100, to be pro-rated, effective Sept. 1, 2025.

Next meeting

The Operating Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13.