Tag: Electrical Plumbing

Students Chat Up Senator Leahy

March 9th, 2010: Nine Students from Stafford Technical Center recently participated in an online chat with US Senator Patrick Leahy. This was the first online chat that the Senator has held with Stafford Technical Center.  The students asked the Senator questions and communicated with him through Skype.  The questions covered a broad range of topics including health care, workforce development, the affordability of college, and even more personal ones like who were his favorite rock bands and the types of summer jobs he had while in high school.  This chat was a wonderful opportunity for the students to interact with an important political figure and learn how they can become more civically engaged in their communities.

Participating students:  Molly Spaulding-Health Careers (Fair Haven High School), Colin Terenzini-Power Mechanics/Welding (Rutland High), David Sexton-Culinary Arts (Mill River), Josh Marcille-Hospitality and Entrepreneurship(West Rutland High School), Colin Haas-Electrical/Plumbing (Rutland High), Luke Molaski-Forestry and Naturual Resources (Otter Valley), Geoffrey McDonald-Public Safety Services (Otter Valley), Lauren Graziano-Architecture Engineering Design (Fair Haven Union High School) and Amber Dumas-Video Production (Rutland High )

Tool Tours

Kindergartners from Northwest School listen intently as Steve Briggs, Stafford Technical Center’s Computer Technology Instructor demonstrates how a “Bo-Bot” works.  The children participated in  Stafford’s annual Tool Tours Program where they have the opportunity to have their first glimpse of a technical center.   Students and Instructors from Stafford’s  Computer Technology, Culinary, Automotive Technology, Construction Technology, and Electrical/Plumbing engaged them in activities that modeled what is taught in their program areas.

Stafford begins Physical Plant Renovation Project

Stafford Technical Center is getting a makeover; sort of. In reality, we are in the early stages of a three year project to renovate our program space which will allow for more flexibility in our program areas.  The Regional Advisory Board approved funding for the first phase which will be underway this summer.

The project will commence with the repair and restoration of the Forestry/Power Mechanics Building on the east side of the campus. The goal is to upgrade the heating/ventilation, mechanical systems and energy retro-fits.  Over the next few years, renovations will expand to include the rehabilitation of the Electrical/Plumbing building, Automotive Technology and Automotive Refinishing Labs. Future relocation of several existing programs to different classroom spaces will eventually result in the launch of Stafford’s Cosmetology Program in the fall of 2011.

Stafford’s long term vision is to have quality, energy efficient classroom spaces that meet the educational needs of the 21st century workforce.

Lowe’s Donates Tools to Stafford Technical Center as part of national Tough Tools for Cool Schools Program

Rutland, Vermont-June 8, 2009-Lowe’s and Kobalt Tools in partnership with SkillsUSA are helping the next generation of skilled trade professionals at Stafford Technical Center through their new Tough Tools for Cool Schools program. Lowe’s is donating approximately $600 worth of Kobalt tools to  Stafford as part of their new national program, which will total $300,000 to more than 500 SkillsUSA building trades and renovation programs across the nation for use in their classroom.

SkillsUSA Advisor John Bixby, was selected to receive the tool kit for the local Electrical/Plumbing Program at Stafford Technical Center. “This is a wonderful example of how industry works to partner with education, for the betterment of the technical program and to help ensure the success of my students,” said Bixby. “SkillsUSA has had a huge part in the transformation of my students because it provides skills and leadership training that they don’t get anywhere else. Lowe’s support just reinforces what we are teaching in the classroom and shows the value of education-industry partnerships.

“Lowe’s is proud to work with Kobalt Tools and SkillsUSA to continue to prepare America’s future skilled work force and help students in their chosen career paths,” said Larry Stone, Lowe’s President and Chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation.

OSHA awards National Certifications

Electrical/Plumbing and Forestry, Natural Resources & Horticulture students at Stafford have successfully completed the the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 10 hour construction safety program.  The program is intended to provide entry level construction workers with general awareness for recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site. OSHA recommends this training as an orientation to occupational safety and health as it has been proven to reduce accidents and save lives. 

Stafford is pleased that the following students have completed this training and received a nationally recognized certificate of completion  for their work.

Electrical/Plumbing Students

Evan Bathalon -Otter Valley, Bradley Christian-Otter Valley, Sarah Grime-Otter Valley, Robert Hudson-RHS, Joshua McDonough-Otter Vally, Zachary Bird-Mill River, David Gauthier-Fair Haven, Colin Haas-RHS, Nicholas Stockwell-Fair Haven, and Owen Tougher-Poultney High School

Forestry, Natural Resources & Horticulture

Dakota Burnham-Otter Valley, Jacob Galuh-Fair Haven, Emily Humiston-Otter Valley, Ben Alger-Fair Haven, James Reed-Mill River, Trevor DeYoung-Otter Valley, Duane Laughlin-Otter Valley, John DeMatties-Poultney, Alan Greenier-Mill River, Cliff Jagodzinski-RHS, John Shaw-Otter Valley, Jarrod Armstrong-Proctor High School, Derick Laughlin-Otter Valley