Tech Directions - March 2009 - (Page 17) designing, engineering, and producEngineered) manager at New Process ing a product. A third student said Gear. that job shadowing opened her mind The company always has more to an opportunity that she had not volunteers than needed to work with been exposed to in school. Another the students, a reflection of the posiadded, “Find a job you love and tive energy that the kids bring to the you’ll never work a day in your life!” job site. Chris Longo, area mainteOther students learned that a job nance manager, said, “We lose track they thought they would like really of how good we really have it here; wasn’t what they wanted to do after we lose track of how good we really all. The crowd seemed impressed are and how proud we are to be conwith what students have learned and tributing to this community!” Longo seemed to greatly enjoy their public also praised the parents in attenspeaking segment. dance, stating, “These young adults Two members of the New York are making good decisions and this is a testament to parents that your kids are well raised.” UAW 624 Vice President Jim Bagay congratulated students and parents and described the role of labor unions in protecting the rights of workers. “There are a lot of media misconceptions about unions, but these kids got to see what a dedicated workforce is all about,” says Bagay. Mark Benenati, president of UAW local 2149 advised students to “learn something that will help you differentiate yourself from everyone else. You don’t know where you’ll end up Above, a student works in life, so learn as much as in the woodshop with a you can.” carpenter. years: “Failure is only an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” The assemblymen presented each student with a Certificate of Merit from the New York State Assembly. Rosemary Painter, chief of staff for assemblywoman Joan Christianson, added that she was very pleased to see three young women among the graduates. Executive principal Avellino came forward for the presentation of Certificates of Completion, along with David Parisian, the Math, Science, Technology coordinator for the Liverpool District. Students received their certificates along with two letters of recommendation, one for their folder at school and one to take home and frame. Parisian said he thought that the whole process was valuable in the way it integrated high school students in a manufacturing facility. “It’s the longest running shadow program of its kind and is the best example of groups coming together in support of a program,” he added. According to Parisian, “Seeing the value in intangibles, providing opportunities and Student Presentation The program also A student presentation offers classroom trainoffered an impressive exing in team building ample of cooperation and and provides guidance teamwork, as students on conducting careerdemonstrated what they related research. had learned about how to assemble a transfer case. State Assembly were also on hand to Students approached the front table, speak to the graduates. Assemblyone by one, each explaining what a man Bill Magnarelli said, “Education specific part did as they placed that is the key!” He focused his comments part into the assembly. Afterward, on his work with the Science and they each shared with the audiTechnology Task Force and with ence one important thing that they the University/Industry Task Force, learned as a result of their participaindicating the increasing need for tion in the summer program. students to become well educated One student stated that he had before entering the world of work. developed an interest in an apprenAssemblyman Al Stirpe shared a quoticeship program, while another tation that had stayed with him for learned about the complexity of unique bridges to career awareness is what the Liverpool district strives for, whether through our FIRST Robotics, Project Lead The Way, or the Career Awareness Manufacturing program.” Job-shadowing opportunities, like Liverpool’s Manufacturing Awareness Program, provide a successful solution to the question of “who is preparing skilled workers for American industry?” www.techdirections.com CTE 17 http://www.techdirections.com
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