Open House at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) in Willow Grove is Sunday March 1, 2020 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity for parents of high school students in Eastern Montgomery County to see how EASTERN can give students a competitive edge in college or in a specialized career program. At the Open House, parents and students will learn how EASTERN students can earn college credits while still in high school through dual enrollment and articulation agreements and enjoy learning in a hands-on setting.
The Open House also offers an opportunity to hear from EASTERN instructors on the business environment that complements students’ high school academics. Many special activities in EASTERN’s career programs are scheduled, and visitors will have the opportunity to sample culinary delights prepared by EASTERN’sCulinary Arts students.
EASTERN’s half-day career programs for 11th and 12th grade students include: Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Business and Technology Professional, Collision Repair Technology, Commercial Art, Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Electrical Technology, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Networking and Cybersecurity, Protective Services, Robotics and Automated Technology, Veterinary Science, and Welding Technology.
Over the past 54 years, EASTERN has been dedicated to serving its students, constantly updating and restructuring its programs, implementing new initiatives, renovating its facilities to be conducive to students’ education, and bringing in faculty and administration who are dedicated to helping students achieve their goals. EASTERN programs continue to evolve to meet industry standards and local workforce needs.
“EASTERN prepares students for successful futures,” said Joe Greb, EASTERN’s Assistant Director. “Throughout the year, we bring in representatives from colleges, businesses and military branches so that our students are aware of all of the different paths they can take toward their career goals. We are proud to offer our students a combination of skills and professional development to help them make informed decision regarding their futures.”
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) 2016 Commercial Art and Upper Moreland High School alumni, Shawn Hakes, is attending West Chester University for graphic design, while taking acting classes at a repertory theater in Philadelphia called Playhouse West Philadelphia. In addition to graphic design and acting, Hakes is also a volunteer for a non-profit organization called Speak About It, which travels to colleges discussing consent, boundaries and healthy relationships.
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) 2019 Construction Technology/Cheltenham High School graduate, Elissa Johnson, is a first-year apprentice at Klover Contracting. After four years, Elissa will complete her apprenticeship and become a Journeyman Carpenter, who builds, installs, and repairs structures, fixtures, and other items using different types of materials including wood and steel with the highest level of quality and efficiency. She was selected for her apprenticeship last June and plans to stay with the company long-term.
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Automotive Technology/Hatboro-Horsham High School 2017 graduate, Joseph (Joey) Motzer, recently completed the Porsche Training Apprenticeship Program (PTAP). He was sponsored by his employer, Sloan’s Porsche of Warrington, because of his drive and ambition.
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Commercial Art/Springfield Township High School senior, Ryan Coughlan, is using his ingenuity and creativity to compete in the pin design contest for the Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) Fall Leadership Conference to be held at Pocono Manor Resort this coming November.
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) Veterinary Science/Abington Senior High School senior, Grace Henry, has been selected by her Veterinary Science Instructor to take on an important role in a new partnership with Wags Rescue & Referral (Wags) in Southampton. EASTERN’s Veterinary Science program will work with Wags to groom the animals and get them adoption-ready. This includes grooming, photographing the animals for the Wags website, and writing the animal description.
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) was honored to receive a visit from Representative Benjamin Sanchez and Michael Markman. Representative Sanchez represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County, which includes two of EASTERN’s participating districts, Abington and Upper Dublin. Michael Markman is the President of BET Investments, a real estate management and development company that owns, manages, develops and leases mixed-use projects, shopping centers, office buildings and apartment complexes throughout the United States.
Representative Sanchez and Mr. Markman were greeted by several EASTERN SkillsUSA School-Wide Officers, including Upper Moreland High School seniors, Isabella Fenerty from the Veterinary Science program and Marcus Brooks from the Construction Technology program, and Kody Levine from the Collision Repair Technology program and Lower Moreland High School. Orie Zaga, SkillsUSA PR Reporter and Commercial Art senior from Abington Senior High School, served as official photographer for the tour.
Representative Sanchez and Mr. Markman were joined on their tour by EASTERN’s Executive Director, Dr. Cathleen Plesnarski, EASTERN’s Assistant Director, Joe Greb, EASTERN’s Joint Operating Committee President, Dr. Art Levinowitz, and EASTERN’s Superintendent of Record, Dr. Robert Milrod. Tour stops included Commercial Art, Welding Technology, Construction Technology, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Electrical Technology, and Collision Repair Technology.
