Thank you BVT for this contribution
During the pep-rally styled “Spotlight on Excellence” celebration, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito graciously received several gifts from Valley Tech’s 18 vocational technical programs. Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal Anthony E. Steele II and several Honors American Government students are seen here presenting “Keys to Valley Tech” printed on cutting-edge 3D printers
UPTON – On January 9, 2014, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School proudly hosted Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito for a “Spotlight on Excellence” inaugural event.
“As one of the Commonwealth’s twenty-six regional vocational technical systems, we are pleased and honored to host Governor Baker and his team during his very first day in office,” commented Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. “Throughout his campaign, the Governor promoted the vision, vitality, and versatility of the state’s quality vocational technical education network. We are eager to showcase our commitment in response to that quest.”
Upon arriving at the school’s student-run Three Seasons Restaurant, Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito were greeted by 11 Valley Tech students who earned national medals in the 2014 SkillsUSA Championships and one student who served as a SkillsUSA national voting delegate. Ceremonial safety glasses were presented by 2014 Drafting Technology graduate Jake Rivard of Northbridge and 2011 Manufacturing Technology graduate Andrew Cardin of Sutton. Jake, a 2013 national SkillsUSA gold medal winner in Technical Drafting, has been selected to represent the United States of America in the 2015 WorldSkills Competition in São Paulo, Brazil. Andrew is currently a finalist to compete in the WorldSkills welding category.
Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito began their tour in Valley Tech’s Drafting Technology program, where they received an overview of in-progress training on product life management software gifted to Valley Tech by industry partner Siemens. Students demonstrated the use of the new software in designing ceremonial “Keys to Valley Tech” that were printed on cutting-edge 3D printers and later presented to Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito.
In Blackstone Valley Tech’s new Engineering Technology laboratory, Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito demonstrated their cohesive teamwork by operating the controls of a student-designed robot and successfully sinking a shot with a basketball. The tour concluded in the Manufacturing Technology shop, where several students guided Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito through the operation of Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) equipment recently acquired via grant funding and support from private partners.
Following their tour, Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito joined a crowd in excess of 1,500 students, teachers, and invited guests for a spirited “Spotlight on Excellence” celebration in the Valley Tech Competition Center. The pep-rally styled event opened with comments from Superintendent- Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, who thanked the Governor and Lieutenant Governor for placing a spotlight on the state’s vocational technical schools.
“Our Commonwealth is blessed with Executive branch leadership who recognizes that quality competency based vocational-technical education can provide college, business and industry with candidates capable of meeting today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges,” Fitzpatrick stated.
Thomas Wesley, a Senior Director at Waters Corporation of Milford, provided further support for and evidence of vocational technical education’s role in making sure Massachusetts’ employers have access to the highly trained workforce they need.
“More than half of our machinists are tech-school graduates. All of our supervisors and all of our managers are tech-school graduates,” Wesley said of the US $2.0 billion life sciences firm. “And many of them are graduates of Blackstone Valley Tech.”
Following Wesley’s remarks, Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal Anthony Steele led a group of students from Valley Tech’s Honors American Government in presenting the Commonwealth’s new leaders with several gifts crafted in Valley Tech’s 19 vocational technical and post-secondary programs, including the 3D-printed “Keys to Valley Tech,” a 3D-printed model of the Massachusetts State House, and customized hard hats and photo IDs to make sure the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are always prepared for another warm welcome at Valley Tech.
The event concluded with energized addresses from Lt. Gov. Polito and Gov. Baker, both of whom thanked the Valley Tech student body for an enthusiastic welcome and applauded them for serving as shining examples of the value of a vocational technical education.
“There’s no greater opportunity we can give a young man or a young woman than a great education,” Governor Baker said. “One of the things I love about schools like this is that they’ve figured out how to combine education with purpose. They help kids find direction and they help kids figure out what it is they want to do with their lives.”
About Blackstone Valley Tech
The Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District was formed in 1964 to provide an exciting and rewarding career education option for students in the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The system offers 18 vocational technical programs and a challenging academic curriculum, as well as a post-secondary program.
Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing Engineering Technology
Automotive Technology Health Services
Business Technology Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Construction Technology Cosmetology I
Information Technology Culinary Arts Manufacturing Technology
Dental Assisting Multimedia Communications Drafting Technology
Painting & Design Technologies Electrical Plumbing
Electronics Technology Post-Secondary Practical Nursing Program
Blackstone Valley Tech’s learning model is centered on the integration of rigorous academics and career technical learning to promote the skillset necessary for career advancement and longevity in the 21st century. Knowledge gained in mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies is applied to real-world problem-solving within vocational technical programs, resulting in students who recognize the relevance of their education, are enthused about their high school experience, and view learning not as a chore but as a privilege.
In partnership with local colleges, businesses, and economic development agencies, the system works toward enhancing the economic, social and historic strengths of the region while promoting opportunities for students and creating solutions for employers. The school has an enviable benchmark of 100% placement of graduates with career or educational paths suited to their talents and ambitions and which address the needs of business and industry. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us
About the Superintendent-Director
Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick has been superintendent-director of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District since 1994, working tirelessly with others to shape a school system which serves as a model for innovative, collaborative reform approaches and viable, vibrant methods of teaching and learning. Among other roles, Dr. Fitzpatrick serves on the District Administrator Leadership Institute Executive Committee, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS), Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA), and Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools. He is a MASS and MAVA Past President and was named Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year 2011 by MASS and AASA.
About the Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal
Anthony E. Steele II joined Blackstone Valley Tech in 1997 as a teacher in the English department
and has been a key player in transforming the school into the successful model it is today. Mr. Steele was named was named Valley Tech’s Assistant Principal/Director of Curriculum in 2001 and assumed his current role of Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal in 2012. Throughout his time at BVT, Mr. Steele has served on various state committees and professional organizations, including the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators and the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association. Mr. Steele is most appreciative of the perspective he has gained from his longevity at BVT. He is most proud of the school’s culture of high expectations and collegiality and the resulting success of its graduates.
About Thomas A. Wesley
Tom Wesley is presently a Senior Director at Waters Corporation, a US $2.0 billion life sciences firm in Milford, MA, where he has served in a variety of operational roles. Tom is an entrepreneurial, globally minded executive with progressively successful experience in driving operational and organizational change. During his career at Waters, Tom has held positions in Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Strategic Planning. Tom was instrumental in evolving the Waters global manufacturing footprint that combines strategic outsourcing along with critical in-sourcing. Tom also chairs the Steering Committee of the employer-led Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the national organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupations education. It sponsors the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference Championships to recognize the achievements of career and technical education students (www.skillsusa.org). At the 2014 SkillsUSA Championships, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts earned the second highest medal count in the nation, behind only to Florida. Students from Blackstone Valley Tech earned 11 national medals, including 4 gold, 5 silvers, and 2 bronze medals.
KEY: Student Name, Hometown, BVT Grade & Program, SkillsUSA Competition
Gold Medalists
- Anthony Collari, Upton, Class of 2014 Plumbing, Plumbing
- TheresaRook, Upton, Class of 2014 Health Services, Health Occupations Professional Portfolio
- BrittanyRovedo, Blackstone, Class of 2014 Culinary Arts, Restaurant Service
- Michael Altavilla, Mendon, Junior Electronics Technology, Principles of Engineering & Technology
Silver Medalists
- Mikayla Corda, Grafton, Junior Health Services, Community Service
- EllaDehestani, Millville, Senior Health Services, Community Service
- SamathaCella, Northbridge, Junior Health Services, Community Service
- Brett Yoder, Douglas, Senior Electronics Technology, Mobile Robotics
- Eric Peterson, Mendon, Senior Electronics Technology, Mobile Robotics
Bronze Medalists
- Dillon Arnold, Northbridge, Senior Electronics Technology, Urban Search & Rescue
- Anthony Arrigo,Upton, Senior Electronics Technology, Urban Search & Rescue
SkillsUSA National Voting Delegate
- Stacy Muanya, Milford, Sophomore Health Services, n/a
WorldSkills 2015 Competitors
- Jake Rivard, Northbridge, Class of 2014 Drafting Technology, Technical Drafting
- Andrew Cardin, Sutton, Class of 2011 Manufacturing Technology, Welding
About Valley Tech’s Cooperative Education Program
In the 2013–2014 school year, a total of 171 seniors and third-term juniors in good academic standing acquired career vocational technical credits and skills by working off-campus in their area of
training every other week. By embracing the challenges of the co-op program, thousands of BVTgra duates have set themselves up for success in full-time employment, post-secondary education, and military service.
About Valley Tech’s Drafting Technology Program
The Drafting Technology program provides students a foundation in design and engineering disciplines through the introduction of mechanical and architectural drafting and engineering principles. Marketable skills in computer aided drafting (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) are developed by training on state-of-the-art equipment and software. With a focus on mechanical design and the product design process, students learn to take a product from concept to prototype. This program provides students with many exciting opportunities for rewarding, entry- level employment and career advancement.
About Valley Tech’s Engineering Technology Program
The Engineering Technology program empowers students to not only think outside the box,
but to redesign the box entirely. Students explore an advanced curriculum focused on mechanical, electrical, civil, and aerospace engineering. Using our state-of-the-art engineering lab, students learn to develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Working with goals in mind, students enjoy collaborating with classmates from other programs on school projects and in robotics competitions. This course of study offers a complete experience for students wishing to pursue a career in a STEM-related field.
About Valley Tech’s Manufacturing Technology Program
The Manufacturing Technology program provides students with a solid foundation in machining, metal fabrication, and welding. Through a combination of presentations, live customer projects, and advanced laboratory simulation, students learn to program and operate manual and
computer numerical control (CNC) equipment. By working closely with other programs to determine process variables and develop solutions, students acquire the collaborative skills necessary for success in modern manufacturing. With a shortage of skilled and talented workers
in the advanced manufacturing field, our graduates have many employment and post-secondary
opportunities from which to choose.
UPTON DAILY 
Well done BVT!