You'll Go Far, Kid! ~ by Felicity Weir

Senior Makenna Braniff was honored when asked if her yearbook cover design could be used on our school’s SkillsUSA T-shirts. Previously, Makenna had created the design in hopes of it being chosen to be on the cover of our yearbook. The design was based upon the theme Bridge to the Future and took approximately a week to initially complete.

Mrs. Weisenstein reveals Makenna's final product! 

Not only was Braniff’s design featured on our yearbook as she had hoped, but due to its inspiring representation of our school, she was asked permission for it to be used as a shirt for our SkillsUSA participants. Makenna was ecstatic.

She spent about a day tweaking the design, putting her skills to work. When asked how she felt the design turned out, she exclaimed ”Better than I honestly expected!” Makenna is extremely proud of herself ( as she should be). She feels as though this has been a positive milestone in her life and a step in the right direction toward her career as an Art Director.

Thankful for her shop Computer and Office Technology, she explains how her instructor Ms. Gabriel has prepared her for future. “ I have been given the tools and knowledge to do everything to the best of my abilities.” Braniff further states that Computer and Office Technology has taught her how to be ready for deadlines and showed her how the workforce she plans to enter will be.

Speaking for LCCTC and for LCCTC’s SkillsUSA Chapter as a whole, we are extremely proud of you, Makenna. Your design is a beautiful representation of our school. Your ideas that inspired the theme “Our Generation IS the Future” shines brilliantly on everything we do here; it shows us that "we CAN go far" in our careers! Ms Braniff, you are a credible example of this year’s SkillsUSA theme ‘Job Ready, Day One’.

Great job, Makenna! 

Planning to attend PTC next fall, Makenna is eager to share more of her artwork with the world and aspires to inspire. Let’s all wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!

The History of... ~ Summer Pitts

The History of Valentine’s Day

In ancient days, an Ancient Emperor Claudius II of Rome executed two men, both named Valentine, on February 14th on different years in the 3rd century AD. Later, Pope Gelasius combined St. Valentine’s Day with Lupercalia to expel the pagan rituals.  The Normans celebrated Galatians Day (lover of women).  

Eventually, as the world started to grow, the tradition started to grow.  Hallmark then began making cards in factories in 1415.  The tradition began to develop and people started finding more ways to shower those they love with love and affection.  People began buying flowers, candy, cards, stuffed animals, and jewelry to give to their significant other as a way to show their love on this holiday.  Today the total amount of money being spent on Valentine’s Day is $19.6 billion.  

Adapted from: https://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

The History of St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day, named after Saint Patrick, celebrates the legacy of a man who was brought to Ireland at the age of 16 as a slave.  He escaped and later returned to Ireland where he was said to have been credited with bringing Christianity to its people.  

In the centuries his death, said to have been on March 14th, 461 AD, Saint Patrick gained mythological notoriety as he traveled and became even more ingrained in the Irish culture.  As the mythology began to spread, people started migrating to the United States where each city would host something different in order to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  

Today St. Patrick’s day is widely known as the holiday where people wear green and explore their Irish culture.  Many host feasts, participate in parades, or dye the rivers green. It seems that on St. Patrick’ day, everyone’s a little Irish!

Adapted from: www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

The History of Easter

To many, Easter, a widely-celebrated religious holiday, is known to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  There is a 40-day period and a 50-day period the represents the time of reflect and penance that represents the 40 days Jesus spent alone in the wilderness.  The 50-day period is called Easter tide. This includes a celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven.  

Known as a moveable holiday, unlike other holidays, Easter never falls on the same date as the year before.  It is most known that Christian churches celebrate Easter on the first sunday following the full moon after the Vernal equinox on March 21st.  Therefore, Easter is said to fall anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th.

Easter isn't just about the religious significances; there is also a commercial side where people spend money on buying baskets to decorate, fill those baskets with different sorts of candy in, and buy little plastic eggs. They either put candy or money in them and hide them to have an Easter egg hunt.

Adapted from: www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-easter

Sweet Treats from Restaurant Trades ~ by Riley Leonard

If the hallway leading up to the cafeteria smelled especially delicious this past week, don’t think you’re crazy. It was Restaurant trades making Chocolate Covered Strawberries for Valentine's Day so that teachers and students could purchase and enjoy. 

Suzanna Bowser, senior Health Assistance student, couldn’t wait to take her box home and share; they were just too pretty to eat. About the berries, she said, “They were delicious! They were fresh, and they were set right. Restaurant Trades did an amazing job with them; their presentation was super-cute and neat.”

Inside the restaurant, the students worked hard to ensure that everyone can get their order. “We sold around 88 boxes. The whole process was pretty organized. Overall, about two dozen students were able to help throughout the week. Because we worked like a well oiled machine, it was such an enjoyable process!” reflects Elizabeth Edinger, Restaurant Trades sophomore.

Not only could the LCCTC faculty and students enjoy them, the Restaurant Trades team also shared strawberries for Ed Camp, a countywide-teacher inservice held this past Friday! They were able to share this delicacy with teachers and administration from each of our home school districts.

As a second-year Restaurant Trades student, my favorite part is the decorating. I was able to help decorate, set up boxes, and select strawberries for orders. 

Crazy enough, you don't need to be in Restaurant Trades to make something as delicious as the chocolate covered strawberries. Something like this is simple enough for anyone to make at home, even without a chocolate fountain! About cup of chocolate chips and a tablespoon of shortening and a microwave or a pot of boiling water is all that’s needed. 

Depending on your skill level, determine which technique you wish to use. The easiest of the two is the microwave. For this technique, just melt the chocolate in thirty second intervals. Stir the chocolate so it completely melts without burning. From time to time, you may need to reheat your chocolate mixture to ensure it remains melted. Then dip your berries until chocolate covers all but the leafy-green top. 

The more complicated method of the two is the double broil; however it may be more desirable because the chocolate does melt smoother. This one's a little more challenging because you need to pay attention to it so it doesn’t burn. With this technique, set a pot of water up to boil. Once it’s boiling, place the bowl of chocolate chips over the pot. Be careful because you have more risk of burning yourself on the pot or even the steam from the boiler below. With the bowl a little bigger than the pot, slowly stir until melted, and then dip! 

Set the dipped berries on a parchment covered sheet tray so they don’t stick. Place the tray in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens until you’re ready to move to the next step.

To decorate your beautiful berries, keep it simple. Repeat the melting technique, preferably using white chocolate or colored chocolate; we used pink and red for this holiday. Try to avoid using food coloring because the chocolate will seize, turning stiff and granular in texture. Once your accented chocolate of choice is melted, dip a fork or a spoon into it. With the accent chocolate dripping from the utensils, zig-zag back and forth in any direction over the berries. You can also add sprinkles if you'd like; make them yours! 

After they are all done, place them in the fridge to set until the chocolate hardens. In these cool temperatures, the strawberries typically last a few days; however, after a while, the berries can get mushy. 

Chocolate covered strawberries are easy to create, and they make a great gift...if you don’t eat them all yourself! Enjoy and have fun!

______________________________________________________

Betty Crocker Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

1 pint (2 cups) medium-large strawberries (18 to 20 strawberries)

½ cup semisweet chocolate chips or white vanilla baking chips

1 teaspoon shortening or vegetable oil

Steps

1. Gently rinse strawberries and dry on paper towels (berries must be completely dry). Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
2. In 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
3. Dip lower half of each strawberry into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip back into saucepan. Place on waxed paper-lined tray or cookie sheet.
4. Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until chocolate is firm, or until ready to serve. Store covered in refrigerator so chocolate does not soften (if made with oil, chocolate will soften more quickly at room temperature).

Rig Up ~ Shelby Leasure

rig up ~ 1. vb. [Drilling]. To make ready for use.

Many believe that high school teenagers aren’t capable of much. However, the students in the Oil and Gas shop at Lawrence County Career and Technical Center are proving that stereotype wrong.

Since October, the students in both A and B week have been planning and building their own Standard Oil Rig. Although they’ve already been working for five months, they still have another three months of hard work ahead of them. 

“For the students, building a standard rig from scratch is a huge deal. Honestly, it would be a huge deal for experienced adults as well,” states Jay Parsons, LCCTC Oil and Gas instructor. He continues to say that rigs of this kind were used from the 1860’s until approximately the 1970’s. LCCTC’s rig consists of a quarter mile of steel, valued at close to 13,000 dollars, and is 35 feet tall!

With each new level, students learn valuable
skills which help them build their resumes!

Of course, a project of this magnitude requires many safety measures. Parsons has trained his students to strategically plan, ensuring that this project is as safe as possible. 

Safety first!  Learning how to use the harnesses keeps our kids safe!

"More than just theory, being able to build this rig gives me true-job experience,” Nick Neupauer, Ellwood City sophomore states. “I also get to experience varying heights and am able to learn the safety strategies needed for this career."

Strapped in to their safety harnesses, the O & G
students pass equipment using "Hercules."

The students are required to wear safety glasses, steel toed boots, fire resistant clothing suits, and hard hats. When climbing their newly built rig, the students are required to wear safety harnesses. To safely lift equipment into the air at such steep heights, they use a pulley system called a wench. The wench, originally used in 1927 to pull ships from Lake Erie to dry dock, is fondly named, “Hercules”.

The oil and gas students haven’t worked alone on this product. Contributing shops include Welding, Auto Tech, Machine Tech, Construction Trades, and Electrical. Many businesses have also had a part in the making of the rig including Hilcorp, Columbia Midstream, and Orr Safety.

According to Parsons, this rig is the only rig of its kind. “Nobody has ever built anything like this; it’s truly one of a kind.” By this, he means that no high school in the entire United States has ever built their own oil rig. Two other rigs, built at college level, cost close to 1.2 million dollars to build; in retrospect, our rig is a bargain.

Not only is it the only rig in America built by high school students, once the project is complete, it will be topped with a flag that came from the United States Capitol Building in Washington DC. The flag was flown on January 2nd, 2018, and its dimensions are an impressive 5x8 feet.

Parsons stated excitedly. “If we can’t buy it, we’ll build it!” 

The project is gathering a lot of interest; it very clear to see that many are excited about this standard rig to come up and running in May, 2018.

Update (2.28.18):  The flag is now
atop the rig.  Congratulations, to
Mr. Parsons and the
Oil and Gas students!
Job well-done!

For more information about how LCCTC can help you
get a jump-start on your career, check out this link:
http://www.lcvt.tec.pa.us/?PageName=bc&n=135996

Conservation Club Gets a Special Visit ~ Julia Williams

"Training a hawk is not a hobby; it's a life passion."  ~ Mike Martone

LCCTC’s Conservation Club’s special guest on February 1st was anything but ordinary. Flying in at just about 2.5 pounds was the red tail hawk. While this hawk stole the show, his trainer, Mike Martone, good friend to our Masonry Instructor Gary Sperdute, explained everything. Martone gives us an inside scoop on red tail hawks, the training regimine for hunting, and the steps needed for trainers to obtain their knowledge.

According to Martone, the red tailed hawk is a bird of prey that breed in mostly North America, Alaska, and Canada. Simply said, they get their name from their tail. When first year hawks are born, they have a brown tail until they’ve matured. If a red tailed hawk bites, it will not leave humans in pain, but its claws will leave damage. Its talons will pierce right through skin, so trainers wear thick leather gloves. Female red tailed hawks are generally one-third larger than male hawks and tend to be more aggressive when protecting the nest.

While female hawks are more aggressive in the nest, male hawks are more aggressive in the woods. Red tailed hawks eat red meat which means their favorite snack is squirrel. They’re able to eat a squirrel’s head whole because their jaw unlocks to make the mouth wider.

Both the bird and the trainer go into the woods together to hunt. In order to get the bird to return from the trees, handlers carry a stuffed animal squirrel with red meat tied to it; the hawk flies to it immediately. “Throughout this training process the hawk and his advisor only grow respect for each other. They will never grow a ‘dog and person’ relationship because the hawk cannot develop feelings. Martone goes on to say, “If the trainer fails to produce enough gain for their hawk, then they will become independent and fly away.”

In order to collect all this knowledge, trainers get sponsors who eventually might take them on as an apprentice for two years.  This can be a challenging commitment. “During the first year, the apprentice cannot replace the bird they are given for twelve months -- no matter the circumstance.” Martone continues, “Apprentices are never given baby hawks because as time goes on, the baby hawks become fearless and will attack their trainers. While some birds will not cooperate, others will be out with their advisors hunting within two to three weeks.”

Students and staff, alike, were eager to devote their attention to listening more about red tailed hawks. Devin Dittmer, Auto Tech junior (Laurel), recalls that “the hawk visit was great! It was very informative and helped us understand how they live in the wild.” He continues, “I now have a new respect for these birds!” 

"It was a great experience to see the bird," states Joshua Stoner, Auto Tech junior (Laurel).  "Now, I will really pay attention to them in the wild because of this presentation."

Senior Auto Tech student Elijah Seaburn (Union) shares Joshua's new interest:  “I enjoyed the learning experience, and I’m inspired to, one day, get into falconry.”

Ryan Nych, English teacher and Conservation Club advisor, states “This topic really interests me; my father was into falconry and owned several hawks.”

The conservation club was happy to invite Mike Martone to present to the club, and in the future, they hope to bring in other special guests, friend and feathered, alike. 

On the Road to Dreams: Brianna McCollums Takes the ASVAB Test ~ by Suzanna Bowser

On the morning of February 23rd, twenty-nine students finally gathered in the library with the same purpose in mind: to take the ASVAB; originally scheduled one week earlier due to heavy snow, these students were now ready to volunteer to take a test.  For some, they were simply curious as to how they'd score on this aptitude test designed to measure the strengths, weaknesses, and potential for future military success. For others, they want to score their very best so they can be placed in their military career of choice; for Brianna McCollums, this means that the results of this test could bring her closer to securing a position training canines to serve on the EOD Bomb Squad.

Inspired by her mother and grandfather, both former Marines, she has been raised to understand the value of service. While she was much too young to remember the events of 9/11, she grew up in the shadow of the tragedy; with this in mind, she responds that her reason to serve is so she can "fight for those who were never given a voice." 

She understands that this is going to be a challenging journey, but the words “Can’t” or “Won’t” do not exist in her vocabulary.  "I want to prove those negative people wrong -- that I CAN make it through to become a Marine like my mother and grandfather," replies McColums.  "I want to make my family and friends proud, and most importantly, I want to feel good about my choice to serve my country."

McCollums, a junior studying Veterinary Assistant, has just committed with her recruiter to serve our country with the Marines. Once her scores come back from the ASVABs she took this morning, she will sign her intent to begin her service as a Marine. 

Is LCCTC in YOUR Future?

Putting Love into It: On the Road to CNA ~ Maggie Richards

The Second Year students in Health Assistant have started the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. This course will certify them to be caregivers in a healthcare setting. It is a 4-12 week program where students will complete a minimum of 75 hours and will fund raise to pay for the $102 Nurse Aide test that is given by a state representative in April. 

Sophomores practice first aid using realistic
prosthetics featuring potential  "injuries".

The first four days are required, and it is suggested that no time is missed during the program process. Students who participate in the program MUST have outstanding attendance. Currently, over two dozen students are working toward their CNA. 

Students take turns practicing first aid. 

These CNA students will be using Lutheran Senior Life in Zelienople, PA as their clinical setting this year. They will learn what it is like to care for residents instead of simply practicing on a mannequin or on one of their friends. 

Students use step-by-step manuals to practice
basic patient care.

As a CNA, there is a pay increase because non-certified Nurse Aides make minimum wage, while a certified Nurse Aide normally makes between $12-$15 per hour. Even though the paychecks are amazing, and the hours are sometimes long. The residents make being a CNA worth the time put into it.   As Mother Theresa would say, “It’s not about how much how much we give, It’s about how much love we put into it.” 

Teamwork is vital to learning, and
smiles are vital for compassionate care.

Grand Champion, Jessica Kelly ~ by Shelby Leasure

“Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half” ~ Bum Phillips For sixteen year old Jessica Kelly, this quote rings true.

Every year, Jessica Kelly travels to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to compete in the Pennsylvania State Farm Show. There, she shows off her Limousine cattle competing against dozens of other hopefuls from across Pennsylvania and competes in Barrel Racing, a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time.

Traditional cloverleaf pattern used in barrel racing

Jessica was introduced to the “showing life” when she was only an infant. Just eight short years later, she began competing on her own. Over the course of the years, Jessica has shown 80 head of cow and raced with her five beloved horses.

Kelly reflects: “Showing livestock is a lifestyle. This is the place to stand out. Don’t fit in!” She prepares each animal with oil to make their muscles and features stand out. Not afraid to add a little sparkle to either bovine or equine, she also adds a bit of bling with sparkly baubles glued to their already shiny coats and manes.

Among her years at the PA farm show, Jessica has won many awards. These awards consist of two Reserve Grand Champion Awards and two Grand Champion Awards. Once again, this year proved to be a blue-ribbon banner year! 

 

Kelly plans to continue her run of success by bringing prestigious attention to her farm.

Peer Leaders Raise over $300 for Cancer Society ~ by Emily Granata

As we start to welcome spring, the season brings thoughts of hope, life, and flowers. With this in mind, the American Cancer Society gives us a chance to support cancer patients in their battle to fight. In the 1970’s, Daffodil Days began.  Contributors donate money to send daffodils to cancer patients across the country. Almost 50 years later, they continue this fight. The Daffodil serves as a symbol of hope that a cure will be found. This year, the American Cancer Society will bring these symbols of hope back, with the Daffodil Days campaign.

The Daffodil Days campaign lets our LCCTC Peer Leaders be a part of the Cancer Society's project by allowing us to reach out to our community with the option to donate money and order flowers.

This year, the Peer Leaders raised over $300! Orders from LCCTC will be delivered on March 21st.

What better way to put a smile on the face of someone you care for and at the same time put hope in the hearts of cancer patients? As always, great job, Peer Leadership!

Earning their Way to States!

LCCTC's SkillsUSA students have a fresh, new batch of chocolate bars to satisfy your sweet-tooth!

Proceeds go to help students pay for dues, the District 10 Leadership Conference, District 10 Competitions, and now, State Competition and Leadership in Hershey, PA!

To date, we have sold 14,000 candy bars!  We also sold over 750 roni rolls, and we're currently starting an Augustine's Pizza fundraiser!  YUM!

For that, we thank you for supporting SkillsUSA at LCCTC, and for sending that message of encouragement to our students that what they do -- COUNTS!

Aaron helps stack the new shipment.

Krista carries a stack of candy bars into the truck.

Kyle, Aaron, and Jacob are all-work, no play today!

You'd buy a candy bar from this gentleman, right?

SWPB: Dash for Cash ~ Tabatha Zang

Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” Bob Talbert

What is the purpose of school? Yes -- it is to learn the basics: “Readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmatic” (and for us, a trade). However, here at LCCTC, we learn a little more -- we are encouraged to make better choices; when we do, we learn that life can be better.

On January 27th, 2018 Mr. Orelli went to the Youngstown Phantom Hockey game to “Dash for Cash” during first intermission for our school. His mission? To earn some money toward our School Wide Positive Behavior (SWPB) field trips we take throughout the year.

There's $3,500 one-dollar bills in front of
Mr. Orelli -- just ready for the taking!  And
it looks like he's ready to grab as much
as he can!

Could you imagine being out on center ice with six other teachers and 3,500 one-dollar bills scattered on a rug at center ice -- right in front of you, just ready to be picked up? Could you imagine the nerves Mr. Orelli could have been feeling?   We asked him, and he chuckled, "All I was thinking was where the heck can I stick as much money in my clothes as I can without it falling out!"

He sure did a great job for our students:  the final official grab? $599!!! With the money Mr. Orelli gathered, SWPB is able to offset the student-cost for the upcoming Pirates game, and it's a great deal: For the cost of the ticket, a hat and a foot-long Subway sub, and transportation to and from the park, students will now only need to pay $5!  If THAT's not encouragement to make good choices at school, what is?

Mr. Orelli grabs as much loot as he can for the kids!

Tom Brokaw, American television journalist once stated, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” This is true as we recognize the staff members responsible for bringing us our SWPB events: Mr. Orelli, Mr. Pavia, Mrs. DeSimone, Mr. Neve, Mrs. Lynch, and Mr. Milanovich. This group, dedicated to ensuring that those who make good choices are rewarded, help plan, chaperone, find the funds, and make sure the event is a blast for everyone. We enjoy the trip to the movie, a chance to go ice skating, the opportunity to see a semi-pro hockey game, the ability to take a break from school to sit in PNC Park and watch the Pirates play -- even a simple end-of-the-year picnic!

Sometimes students don’t see how much the teachers and staff do for us and our school. It’s the staff who make these events possible. We simply say to you -- Thank You.

To view the video of Mr. Orelli's dash, please click on this link to the Facebook page:  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=532723017086329&id=382830115408954

Collision Repair WoWs in Pittsburgh Car Show ~ by Heather Jewell

Have you ever wanted to design a car? At World of Wheels (WoW), a nationally-recognized car and cycle show,  students can compete against other cars and their owners for a prizes. According to the World of Wheels purpose for Student Career Day goals, "the Student Career Day Program began in 2006 as a vehicle to support school automotive educational programs by exposing students to the wide range of opportunities in the industry through associated subject matter speakers and presentations, corporate support, and event participation." Our students were impressed with all they saw at WOW.

Although the students enjoyed preparing for the competition, LCCTC’s Collision Repair shop did not place, but they did learn a lot.  A few of the shop students stated that they had tons of fun this year preparing their cart.  The skills required of the project were an exciting challenge for them, and they are energized for next year’s competition.

Bailey Eaton, a first year student, stated “My favorite part was just seeing the car styles.  Basically, everything was unique in its own way.” She then continued in an exciting tone, “I learned that you should always try your best.  As long as you have a fun and new work experience, it’s all worth it.  Seeing the competition for the first time already has me thinking of new ideas to pitch for next year!”

Second year student, Mike Sinibaldi, said “I learned so many new things. For example, I learned about the different cars there and how everything has its own background -- its own story, and I think that’s pretty cool.” He continued, “I talked to a few different people who did the sanding process a little differently than I learned, so it was fun AND educational. My biggest lesson had to be: ‘Trying my best gets me somewhere’.”  

LCCTC’s car submitted for competition was blue and the chrome was a matte black.  The process of getting it from start to finish was well-worth the time.

All in all, it sounds like World of Wheels was a great experience for the students. The Collision Repair students are excited to prepare for next year with their goals set:  To come home with an award!

Mr. Banner was very proud to state “They did well; they learned from everything they see down here in my shop, and now they see what they can accomplish -- with a little bit of hard work and grit.” Mr. Banner is highly supportive of his students and also made sure the students are at their best.

“They even worked on the day of the competition while on the bus!”  Mr. Banner continued, “That shows you how devoted they were to making a good impression at the competition.”

Mr Banner also gave some rather good advice to his students, “Listen to your teacher.  In the end, I'm pretty sure every single one of them came back thinking, ‘There’s a lot I can learn from focusing even more on the skills taught here at LCCTC’.”  

After visiting WoW, the kids are already showing more interest in their chosen career, and THIS will take them as far as the wish to go!