Administration:Mr. Kurt SpeicherExecutive Director

Mrs. Regina HilerPrincipal / Assistant Director

Mrs. Rebekah DavisBusiness Manager

Newsletter design and photography by Advertising Design Program

Event Dates:

SkillsUSA State CompetitionApril 13-15, 2016 Hershey, PA

Butler County AVTSAwards CeremonyThursday, May 26, 2016 - 6:30 p.m. @ BC3 Field House

HOSA InternationalsJune 22-25, 2016 Nashville, TN

Summer STEM Exploratory Camp World of Work, It’s a Jungle Out There! Monday, June 27, 2016 - Thursday, June 30, 2016 @ BCAVTS from 9:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.

CUTTING

EDGEBUTLER COUNTY AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL NEWS

210 Campus Lane, Butler, PA 16001Phone: 724-282-0735Fax: 724-282-7448Website: www.butlertec.us

What’s Inside...Geothermal Heat

Senior Project

Rolling Tribute

House Project

Fashion & Style

Bright Designers

Carpentry/CabinetmakingWe have Mars Senior, Grant Riddle, building a cedar strip canoe. Grant has always had an interest for water… he feels this project suits him!

There are many steps to this project! First, Grant had to build and set up the jigs to be able to build the canoe. After that, he took rough cut cedar and cut it into strips. There are many hours of sanding involved in this process! Also, a clear coat of fiberglass and epoxy must be applied to prevent the wood from swelling and contracting. When the canoe is finished, Grant can enjoy it on the water!

Also, the Carpentry class will start a custom kitchen for the “house project” in Building Construction soon!

Paddling to Completion

Senior ProjectGraphic ArtsTori Simpson, a senior from Seneca Valley, wanted to do something for the community for her Senior Project. Also, she loves animals!

For her Senior Project, she is creating and selling key chains for the Butler County Humane Society. These keychains are $2.00 each. ALL proceeds will go to the Butler County Humane Society.

Tori created the design on Adobe Illustrator. Then, she cut the designs into plexi glass shapes on Graphic Arts’ laser cutter. All plexi glass was donated by Unimart in Evans City!

Tori is attempting to partner with businesses. She is asking for donations in support of her project.

Geothermal HeatThe HVAC students are beginning to prepare for certifications this year. They all take the EPA Section 608 Refrigerant Recovery exam, and the seniors will be taking their HVAC Excellence exams. The EPA 608 exam is a requirement to work in this industry.

The HVAC senior class recently finished installing six geothermal heat pumps in the HVAC lab. This was a very difficult task, but they succeeded. They first had to complete the research and design specifications required to complete the task. Geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient way to heat and cool a home or business. They also reduce harmful emissions into the environment because of the minimal amount of energy needed to run them. These units will be a great addition to the HVAC class and countless students will benefit from their installation.

Careers Jump StartedEmpowering students with the skills necessary for continuous development, education, and employment. That’s the mission statement of the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School.Teachers and students live that mission statement every single day. In order to assist students with building their future, the Vo-Tech utilizes a program they call Cooperative Education. This allows students to go out and work in the career field in which they are being trained, while still going to school.

Recently a student in Mr. Bennett’s Automotive Technology program, Ryan Dittrich, started living his dream. “Two years ago all I wanted to do was work for a Bobby Rahal dealership. Mr. Bennett and the Butler Vo-Tech have made that dream come true,” said Dittrich. Ryan is now working as a part of the school’s Cooperative Education program at Mercedes-Benz of Pittsburgh. Ryan says, “This is allowing me to get a jump start on my career. I am getting great experience, manufacturer training, and a full-time position upon graduation. More students like me should take advantage of what the Vo-Tech has to offer.”

Third Straight YearFor the third straight year, two students competed against the best automotive students from around the state. Kylie Concelman and Ryan Dittrich from BCAVTS competed. They competed against Automotive Technology students from all over Pennsylvania, diagnosing and servicing a 2016 Chevy Equinox. The first stage of this competition started back in December when automotive technology students from around the state took an exam. The test was based on the same format used by industry for certification through Automotive Service Excellence or ASE. Our students were among the top twenty scores in the state. Because of the immense work and dedication taken into their practices, our students came in 4th place!

TrainingHeavy Equipment RepairStudents are working on achieving a Safety Training Certification: S/P2.

S/P2 is an online safety training leader committed to reducing the number of accidents in the workplace. The courses provide students with the knowledge and awareness they need to stay safe. Each course contains modules on topics relevant to the particular field of study, as well as a final exam to test knowledge of the materials.

Students will begin Tractor/Trailer Air Brake Fundamentals and Proper Air Brake Adjustment Procedures this semester.

Rolling TributeAuto Technology IIWe had a newspaper article published in the Butler Eagle about a 1971 Pontiac LeMans that we are restoring. The car has some interesting history as it belonged to Eddy Hartman a 1979 BHS graduate.

Dave Fox bought the car off of Eddy in 1983 for $500.00 so that he had money to buy his wedding ring set. Tragically, Eddy was killed in a car accident the night before his wedding. When finished, Dave is going to keep the car as a rolling tribute to Eddy.

Second semester we will begin engine repair and engine performance.

Health Occupations students are starting Phlebotomy and EKG training this month in preparation for the PCT exam. Health Assistant students just completed CPR/First Aid certifications and will begin clinical at Sunnyview!

EAT LUNCH at the Butler County AVTS

“The Eatery”Open every Thursday and

Friday, hours 11:30am - 1pm during the school year.

Check the menu & calendar at www.butlertec.us or

scan the URL code.

STYLE IT UP... at the Butler County AVTS

Open daily and every Monday night and first Wednesday night of each month during

the school year. Check the price list at www.butlertec.us

Make an Appointment!

“House Project”Building Construction

The “House Project” is under roof. The students are starting electrical work! Building Construction’s “House Project” is an actual house and is united with a Non-Profit Development Project; furthermore, a partnership may develop with the Wounded Warrior Project.

Leadership ConferenceHealth Assistant/HOSA28 Health Assistant students diligently prepared to compete at the State Leadership Conference in Lancaster March 9-11 2016. Many of our students placed and will continue on to Internationals.

First Place: CPR - Josh Cranmer and Kaitlyn EnglishSecond Place: Personal Care - Megan CampbellMedical Assistant - Amelia CuaThird Place: Vet Science - Kia BrinerBio Medical Lab Science - Brienna Fazio

Fashion & StyleCosmetologyA Fashion Show was held at St. Barnabas for residents in February. Students modeled a casual, business, and formal look which included hair, makeup, and nails.

The prom competition will happen here at the school, just as we have done the holiday and Halloween competitions in the past. Students will prepare their partners with a total prom look, including hair, makeup, nails, and prom dress. Students will receive an award for best junior prom style and best senior prom style. They will be judged by members of the BCAVTS faculty.

Cosmetology was awarded the Butler Eagle Silver Readers’ Choice Award.

EMT CourseProtective ServicesStudents in the program have recently completed the midterm / halfway point of the National Registry EMT course and are now eligible to ride along with local ambulance services for patient contacts. Many thanks to Butler Ambulance Service and Cranberry EMS for your continued support!

Third year student Jonathan Zottercompeted in the SkillsUSA regional Fire Fighting competition held at the New Castle School of Trades and won the GOLD medal! He will now travel to Hershey for the State Competition!

SkillsUSA District 10 CompetitionOn January 15, 2016, students participated in the SkillsUSA District 10 Competition at which 7 BCAVTS students received gold medals as well as many silver and bronze medals. Gold medalists, and the BYE, will participate in the State Competition in Hershey, April 13-15, 2016

Bright DesignersAdvertising Design

Instructor Mrs. Lee Ann Clutter and the Advertising Design students go for an annual field trip to Golden Opportunities and show the

patients some stylish design elements. From taking Christmas photo shoots with every patient to students decorating the building windows with winter themed paintings, the students spread

happiness at Golden Opportunities! It’s time for joy and time for cheer, coming right from your bright advertisers at Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School!

Cookies, Cookies EverywhereCulinary Arts - For Christmas Cookie Week, we baked 569 dozen cookies! (6,828 cookies scooped and sold to the general public this Holiday season).

Our SkillsUSA competition was held this January and both Culinary Arts students who competed, Randall Shaffer and Garrett Gurnsey, plan to go to IUP Academy of Culinary Arts.

Outstanding StudentA BCAVTS Outstanding Student is chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, honesty, responsibility, optimism and loyalty in creating a positive school environment. An Outstanding Student must be a diligent student, completing his/her assignments on time, showing strong effort to learn the subjects. Lastly, an Outstanding Student demonstrates excellent behavior, is well mannered, and respectful to both peers and teachers.

NovemberTyler Podlaski /12th grade /Graphic Arts- Seneca ValleyTeacher’s Name: Mr. Spaulding

December Alyssa Nusser /12th grade / Cosmetology- Seneca ValleyTeacher’s Names: Mrs. Ellison & Mrs. Rocco

JanuaryHallie McHattie /12th grade /Culinary Arts Slippery RockTeacher’s Name: Mrs. Collins

FebruaryZachary Hack /12th grade / HVAC- ButlerTeacher’s Name: Mr. Collins

MarchAnnika Layman /12th grade / Ad. Design- First Baptist Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Clutter

Gold Advertising Design Annika Layman Advertising Design First Baptist 12Gold Cabinetmaking Damion Young Carpentry Karns City 12Gold Computer Maintenance Forrest Dickey Computer Networking Moniteau 12Gold Fire Fighting Johnathan Zotter Protective Services South Butler 12Gold HVAC and Refrigeration Eric Busa HVAC Seneca Valley 11Gold Photography Ashley Frye Adverting Design Butler 12Bye Sheet Metal Jakub Nelson HVAC South Butler 12Silver Advertising Design Tyler Podlaski Graphic Arts Seneca Valley 12Silver Automated Manufacturing Derek Burk Machine Technology Butler 12 Technology Mark Etzel Machine Technology Butler 12 Austin Angert Machine Technology Butler 12Silver Commercial Baking Garrett Gurnsey Culinary Arts Butler 12Silver Cosmetology Alyssa Nusser Cosmetology Seneca Valley 12Silver Culinary Arts Austin Monday Culinary Arts Butler 11Silver Diesel Equipment Jeremy Stenzel Heavy Equipment Karns City 12 TechnologySilver Electrical Construction Colton Karns Building Construction First Baptist 12 WiringSilver Job Skill-Other Sabrina Shick Cosmetology Mars 11Bronze Commercial Baking Randall Shaffer Culinary Arts Butler 11Bronze Masonry Zachary Nguyen Building Construction South Butler 12Bronze Prepared Speech Aubrie Ball Cosmetology Karns City 12Bronze Automotive Refinishing Hayley Heckert Collision Repair South Butler 12 TechnologyBronze Automotive Service Kylie Concelman Automotive Technology Mars 12 SpecializationBronze CNC Technician Trevor Ekis Machine Technology Karns City 12Bronze Collision Repair Douglas Schriver Collision Repair Seneca Valley 12