In June 2024, recent graduates Marin Goldfarb from Cheltenham High School, Kahlan Yaskowski from Springfield Township High School, and Carolyn Keim from Jenkintown High School, representing Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN), achieved a Bronze Medal at the SkillsUSA National Competition for Promotional Bulletin Board in Atlanta, Georgia.

"I am incredibly proud of my students and their unwavering determination," said Nicole Abruzzi, Design, Photography, and Illustration Instructor at EASTERN. "They not only demonstrated remarkable creativity but also operated as a unified team, brimming with innovative ideas and a deep mutual respect for each other."

The 2024 Promotional Bulletin Board competition had the theme "No Limits." Marin, Kahlan, and Carolyn chose to feature non-traditional EASTERN students on their board. Their goal was to showcase these students as examples of pursuing career aspirations without conforming to societal norms.

The SkillsUSA Championships is the national culmination of a year-long process that begins in local SkillsUSA chapters across the country. Local winners advance to district or regional competitions, testing their skills against competitors from other schools. Those winners advance to state competitions each spring, and state gold medalists earn the right to compete nationally at the SkillsUSA Championships each June. Along with gold, silver, and bronze medallions, competitors may earn scholarships, tools of the trade, and more.

In EASTERN’s Design, Photography, and Illustration program, students develop their own portfolio. This two-year career program covers everything from conceptual drawing and design to a professional portfolio. Students learn the value and application of their unique styles in both design and illustration and how to use industry-standard software on the Macintosh platform. Core software includes Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Upon completion of the program, students will have a portfolio consisting of items for entry into their postsecondary school of choice as well as National Portfolio Day.