Students in every grade know that there are some students who attend the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center.  What students may not know is all of the projects the “tech kids” do throughout the year. Students participate in projects and fundraisers to help further prepare them for the workplace.
     The shop, Health Occupational Technology (H.O.T.) is just one of the many shops busy with community-wide projects. They have the opportunity to volunteer at the Special Olympics, as well as help with the biannual blood drives.
     “We actually get to go work in a nursing home for clinical,” said senior Sarah Mains when asked how she gets to put her learned skills to work.
     H.O.T. also has its yearly bake sale to help raise money for charity. This year it will take place on December 22 and will be held at EWCTC. They sell paper shamrocks around St. Patrick’s Day and the money goes towards children who have muscular dystrophy. H.O.T also works with other shops during fundraisers to help earn money for other organizations.
     Culinary students have a Christmas banquet. They also make goodie bags for elderly and bake cookies. They bake for their own yearly bake sale and have a variety of other projects. They sell food and help with public dinners and breakfasts, which are held for anyone, on top of their class work.
     “I feel more confident in myself for the workplace because of tech,” said senior Culinary student Nikki Shaffer.
     Another active shop is Digital Media (D.M.). Though they do not have fundraisers for the holiday, they do different activities, such as working with Cosmetology on various photo shoots throughout the year. Cosmetology does the hair and makeup while D.M. takes pictures. They also have a commercial video shoot planned with Cosmetology.
     In addition to cooperating with D.M., Cosmetology participates in a fashion show as well.  For their photo shoots they portray different themes. They are prepared for the workplace because of clinic. They do not do anything special for the holidays in their individual shop. They work with other shops if they are in Skills or the National Technical Honors Society.
     “We do so much that deals with real life and I just feel so much more prepared for the working field,” Graphic Design sophomore Sami Perry said.
     Graphic Design does many activities throughout the year. They are currently making holiday cards. The main fundraiser that Graphics does entails making T-shirts and note pads to sell to students. This helps to fund scholarships and certification tests. They make the designs and press the shirts themselves.
     Projects that they are going to do this year involve making life-size cardboard cutouts and as well as other cutouts such as fat heads. Occasionally they work with other shops in order to make their projects better.
     The shops listed above are only four of the 16 shops located at EWCTC. Students refrained from answering the questions in Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Building Trades, Cabinetmaking, Collision Repair Technology, Industry Certifications, Information Technology/CISCO, Machine Tool Technology, Mechatronics, Plumbing/HVAC, Trowel Trades and Welding Technology.
     Even though EWCTC students only spend a half of a day here at LVHS, that does not mean the rest of their day is void of activity. Clearly, EWCTC students are gradually building skills needed for their future.