Eighty representatives from various trade industries packed into the Career Technical Institute on Oct. 23 for The Annual Trade Advisory Committee Meeting where tradespeople and educators work together to provide hands-on, real-life experiences for students.
Veith Electric LLC, Lenscape Media and AFI Glass & Architectural Metal, Inc. were just some of the businesses who met with CTI instructors about what kind of opportunities they could provide to students including bringing them on workplace tours, internships and even employment.
“Everybody that was here really wanted to be a participant and wanted to be involved with our students,” CTI Job Placement Specialist Sharon Myers said. “It was just great conversations and active participation on both sides.”
The meeting serves as a springboard for students to start interning with industries, which Myers is hopeful will lead to jobs at the places at which they interned come May.
“It really connects us with all the connections for students to start their next steps to success,” Myers said. “They know that we’re putting out students that are going to be worthy of working for them.”
Student-cooked feast is a fruitful effort
Culinary students from all four classes taught by Chef Instructors Darcy Sala and Amanda Scocca prepared delicious dishes such as beef stew topped with puff pastry, vegetable lasagna and apple turnovers with vanilla bean whipped cream for guests. 
While Sala and Scocca assisted where necessary, the students prepared this spread almost single-handedly.
“Some guests were shocked that the students pulled it off by themselves,” Scocca said. “We got a lot of good feedback.”
Scocca noted that catering events like this is important for students to learn customer service skills, how to set up and break down a buffet and network with professionals in the industry.
“Customer service is one of the biggest things we need in the industry,” she said.
Five students, in full uniform, served guests at the event who praised them for their professionalism and positive energy.
“I couldn’t ask for better students,” Scocca said. “They all pulled it off really well.”