Students > Headstart on Life
 

Grace Bowersox, Shikellamy, working on a computer design.

Advertising Art & Design
By: Grace Bowersox, Shikellamy

My name is Grace Bowersox from Shikellamy High School. When I found out my junior year that I was able to attend SUN Tech my senior year I was thrilled because I heard it was a great experience and could enhance my skills. Many people said that I should go for the art program because I could improve my talents as an artist. After much consideration, I filled out the papers to be enrolled in Advertising Art & Design. It was the best decision I made.

In the course I learned several computer programs necessary for the graphic design field such as QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. As much as I dislike computers, I learned to love these programs within a few days of creating page layouts, my own designs, and other exciting artwork. We learn how to use different artistic mediums and the proper tools. We learn to use pen and ink, mongol pencils, various paints, proper pencil grades, and other tools not mentioned.

Throughout this art program, we are taught to act and dress like professional adults. Our teacher, Mrs. McBride, gives us plenty of chances to learn responsibility by volunteering to do extra-curricular activities, live jobs, or program chores. We also participate in many community service projects, such as: painting local post office windows for the holidays, props for the Mifflinburg ChristKindl Market, and much more. The class is set up so we can usually go at our own pace.

 All the students in the program are all enrolled in Skills USA-VICA, a leadership program that will better prepare us for the work force. The organization gives us opportunities to meet new people, find good jobs, and to prepare us for our future as adults. Students are required to take the NOCTI Test for Advertising Design at the end of the year. A passing grade proves that the student is job-ready to be a graphic designer and the student receives a certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

My future plan is to graduate with an A or high B and continue my art education at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. My long-range goals involve working as an advertising artist or graphic designer, continuing to create fine art, and possibly teaching.

Auto Technology
By: Caleb Parrish, Mifflinburg

Hi, my name is Caleb Parrish and I am a senior from Mifflinburg Area High School. Ever since I was a kid I knew that I liked to work on stuff with my hands. When it came time to plan our class for this year, I decided to take the Automotive Technology curriculum taught by Mr. David Hauck.

During the course of this year, I learn more about cars and how they work. Our teacher has taken something that could be boring and turned it into a live shop scenario, which proves to be a good learning experience. It not only teaches us about responsibility and deadlines, but it teaches us just what it will be like when we get out there in the work force and have to work on live cars. During the course of this year we started by working on basic shop safety and have worked our way up to state-of-the-art alignment, and just now starting electricity. After school I plan on enrolling at a technical college and continue my education in the automotive field, and one day work at a dealership.

Carpentry
By: Heath Benfer, Middleburg and Andrew Kreamer, West Snyder

It is a very busy time of year for the students in the Carpentry program. They are hustling to finish projects, preparing for Co-Op jobs and practicing for the Skills/USA VICA competitions. The first half of the year was spent learning all aspects of rough framing and shingling. They are now ready to cover interior and exterior finishing. It looks like the Carpentry program as well as Building Trades Construction cluster will have a busy Spring building an addition at the New Berlin Fire Company as well as some remodeling at the Selinsgrove High School.

Josh Bergeron, Selinsgrove, demonstrates artistic designs done in collision repair technology.

Collision Repair Technology
By: Josh Bergeron, Selinsgrove

I am a student enrolled in Collision Repair Technology, where we cover a wide variety of auto body repair techniques. The class touches on everything from minor dent and ding to major frame straightening and sectioning. In order to cover all aspects of the collision field in one year the class must move quickly. Though it’s a fast pace class, the quickness does not sacrifice the depth or the precision of skills learned.

You learn many different things in one day. You could go from welding a panel to painting a car all in the same day. This keeps you on your toes. It’s not a hard class if you are into the auto field. I find this an exceptional class. I am a junior in high school and know that book learning is not for me. With this class it seems we are always out in the garage and never in the classroom. We do have class work like an ordinary high school classroom. You can learn the task very easily; the difficulty is perfecting your skills on the task ahead of you. This is a career or a hobby that takes practice to get it down.

Collision Repair keeps my attention and makes me want to come to school. If you are a student in high school or an adult looking to further your education this class will get you on your way to a career in a high demand job. I am glad no extra funds are required for high school students to attend. With that in mind I intend on taking any and all advantages this class will give me and give back to the community by ways of my grade A skills learned from here.

Cosmetology
By: Kerri Kremer, Mifflinburg

Hi my name is Kerri Kremer. I am a cosmetology student at SUN Area Career and Technology Center. I came to SUN Tech from Mifflinburg Area High School for my senior year. I decided to come to SUN Tech because of the benefits it had to offer. Coming to Tech instead of attending my home school meant that I could graduate from high school and also have my cosmetology license at the same time. Now as soon as I graduate and take my state board exams, I can start a career in the cosmetology field right away. Not only will this save me time from having to attend another cosmetology program after high school, but it also saves me the money it would cost for the same education at another school.

I’ve always wanted to be a cosmetologist but I have also loved interior design. After graduating from SUN Tech I plan to find a job in a salon while I attend college for interior design. Working in a salon will help me to pay my way through college. Although I may not have a career in cosmetology after college, having my license will always be something I can fall back on. Although the field of cosmetology may not be my number one career choice for the rest of my life, it is for most of the students in my class. They have dreams of opening their own salons, working for other salon owners, and many other careers in the field. Cosmetology is a great career to get into. There are many routes you can take after you have your license.

My class does a lot of things outside of the normal class work. We are involved in the Skills USA VICA program. Many students compete at districts, states, and even nationals. They work very hard throughout the year to compete in different skills. Once a month my class also invites senior citizens to come and have services done on them for a small fee. We have done fundraisers to go on class trips to hair shows and also to raise money for a program called Look Good Feel Better. The program helps cancer patients, who have lost their hair due to treatments, find wigs that suit them and make them feel better about themselves during a very hard time in their lives. All the extra things we do in class are growing experiences, not only professionally, but personally. SUN Tech has been a great experience for me so far. I’m very glad I came here for my senior year in high school. I would recommend it to anyone who may be looking for the next step to their future, or who may already be considering SUN Tech.

Dental Health Technology
By: Abby Courtney, Middleburg and Ashley Rhoads, Mifflinburg

We came to SUN Area Career and Technology Center to pursue a career in the dental field, either as a dental assistant, lab technician, sterilization agent, or receptionist. Some special things we do in our Dental Assisting program include: HOSA or Health Occupation Students of America which gives students a chance to excel in their field through state and national competitions, Co-op or cooperative education allows students to go out and work during school hours and experience working in a dental office outside of the school’s dental clinic set up. In the Co-op Program the student gets a paycheck and still receives the credits necessary to graduate.

The dental class is filled with high-tech equipment such as an intra-oral camera and the newest computer programs which include charting and scheduling. Adjoining the class is a dental clinic run by Steven Miller, DDS, that provides the students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience under the supervision of professionals before going out to work through Co-op. The dental class is designed to incorporate both theory and hands-on skills which will further prepare the students for work on the job site. The students can also choose to become x-ray certified by taking the Pennsylvania Dental Radiologic Procedures Examination, held in Harrisburg in January.

On October 3,rd Abby Courtney, Middleburg and Jen Yarger, Mifflinburg, visited a health fair in New Berlin to teach children about basic hygiene skills. November 2002, through Red Cross, the dental class became certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED, which is recommended for the job. The dental class was also invited to attend the Pennsylvania Dental Association’s yearly update conference with many other dentists and dental health care professionals held at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. In February, the dental class will be active with Dental Health Month and will be working with many young students through several community projects.

We are currently learning all the necessary skills to become a successful receptionist, dental assistant, sterilization agent, or lab technician. There is a great demand for all health care professionals and many jobs are currently available for those trained in dental assisting. Through SUN Area Career and Technology Center, we will learn everything needed to fulfill our future plans which will consist of either working in a dental office or specialty office as a dental assistant, becoming a sterilization agent, lab technician, receptionist, or going on to higher education.
 

Drafting/CAD Technology
By: Kelly Roush, Mifflinburg and Gregg Marshall, Shikellamy

The Drafting/CAD Technology program is a fun and exciting class. You learn about many different careers available in drafting. If you like designing buildings and dream houses you would fit in Architectural drafting. If furniture or designing prototypes is your thing then you’re a good candidate for Mechanical Drafting.

Hello, my name is Kelly A. Roush and I am a senior of the Mifflinburg Area High School, and I am Gregg L. Marshall of the Shikellamy High School. We choose to come to SUN Area Career & Technology Center to enhance our drafting skills, learn more about the drafting field and to use the high tech equipment. Drafting/CAD Technology has new technologies to work with. The new Rapid Prototype Machine allows us to make a model of our creations in ABS plastic, such as, the pieces to a chess board, prior to it being produced be the Precision Machine Program. On the Architectural side of things we are working on a layout of an apartment building which we measured and sketched ourselves. This will help us with our Architectural drafting skills for the future.

This class is preparing us for a co-op job in the field of Architectural Drafting, which we both are looking forward to. One of the best advantages of Drafting/CAD Technology is you don’t need any previous drafting skills or abilities to attend but, any previous knowledge or experience would be beneficial. If you are interested in drafting, attending SUN Area Career & Technology Center would be a great solution for you!



 

Electrical Systems Technology
By: Seth Jackson, Lewisburg

My name is Seth Jackson from Lewisburg Area High School. I am enrolled in the Electrical Systems Technology program at SUN Tech. The reason why I chose to attend SUN Tech is because my father is an electrician and I know that electricians and electrical technicians are in demand. The Electrical Systems Technology program prepares students for entry into careers as residential and commercial electrical technicians. Along with the theory of electricity, safety, and the National Electrical Code we also learn to install telephone, data and fiber optic cabling. Later in the year we will learn motor control and Programmable Logic Control programming used in automated manufacturing applications. There is a lot of hands- on learning to reinforce topics that are discussed in theory. The class is graded on their performance in doing the tasks that they are assigned. We do projects outside of the classroom and outside of the school to benefit the community. My class is going to wire a new addition to the New Berlin Fire Department Banquet Hall and two Habitat for Humanity houses, which will take place around March and April. After graduation I plan to join the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, complete the five-year apprenticeship program and become a Journeyman Electrician.
 

Brandon Chute, Middleburg and Deanna Tasker, Shikellamy, are setting up a digital counter for constructing a digital clock

Electronics Technology
By: Deanna Trasker, Shikellamy and Brandon Chute, Middleburg

My name is Deanna Tasker and I am from Shikellamy. I came to SUN Tech for the Electronics class and had prior experience in this field at the Northumberland County Vo-Tech. In Electronics we are learning the color code, building AC waveforms, how to solder and build circuits. . The project we are working on now is building a digital clock. Later on in the year we will be rebuilding computers. I plan to further my education by going to a technical collage after I graduate this year.
My name is Brandon Chute and. I am a junior from Middleburg High School. I used to have a stereotypical attitude towards the tech schools in the area until I visited. The moment I visited SUN I was amazed by the types of thing the students did, especially in electronics. In class we learn basic theory on how electronics work. We learn the basics of both analog and digital electronics and the theory’s involved in these forms of electronics. We have completed many projects and the most recent I have been working on is a digital clock. In my future I intend to attend a 4-year college/university and hopefully get a degree in engineering.
 

Malinda West, Mifflinburg, is preparing a soup stock for the “Hide-Away-Café”.

Food Service
By: Malinda West, Mifflinburg

Hello my name is Malinda West from Mifflinburg. I came to SUN Area Career and Technology Center because I am interested in Culinary Arts and this class will prepare me for a better future in this industry.
The Food Service program at SUN Area Career and Technology Center has many special qualities. We cook, serve, clean, and help the cafeteria prepare and serve students from other programs. We also have a restaurant within the program. The restaurant is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each student in the class gets to be at every position and learns how to run their part of the restaurant. The students run the restaurant with a little help from the instructor, Mr. Mytinger. We have 175 tasks to complete during the school year. The majority of those are hands- on. The tasks include everything from making coffee to preparing a stock for soup. We learn to properly use restaurant equipment such as the slicer, auto sham, grill, fryer, and dishwasher. SUN Area Career and Technology Center has prepared me to enter the working world or further my education. It has given me the lifelong skills that every high school student needs. I believe that I’m going to take off a year then go to Penn College of Technology and major in Restaurant Management.


 

Health Professions and Related Sciences
By: Jennifer Koller, West Snyder and Jennifer Taylor, Mifflinburg

The 2002-2003 Health Professions class is a group of fifteen students who are interested in learning about many different kinds of careers that the health field has to offer. Each student is interested in learning something different within the health field. There are many things that our instructor Mrs. Tule, a Registered Nurse, is teaching us that we will use in our chosen health careers.

 We started our Nurse Aide training course on October 14, 2002 and will end on March 31, we rise to the challenges knowing that we will be better prepared for our futures. 2003. The Nurse Aide course consists of 150 hours of theory and skill units that must be completed by the first day of clinical training, which is February 4th of 2003.

We all work at our own pace. Students within our class are evaluated on certain skills in order to be ready to go out on clinical. We are required to complete 50 hours at Riverwoods, which is a skilled nursing facility. After satisfying all of our theory, skills, and clinical requirements we can take the state nurse aide test.

Our class is a member of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), student organization, where we will be attending both state and national conferences. At the conferences we will be competing against other HOSA chapters. We will be having two students: Steph Fegley, and Amanda Hassinger competing for CPR at the state level. Faith McMillen and Jen Koller will be going for medical terminology, and Amy Sprankle for Nutrition. There are many different categories that we can choose from to compete for the gold.

Our daily life of in class consists of lectures of Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Nurse Aide Training, and Introductions to Health Occupations. These different studies all help contribute to our Nurse Aide training and our specific chosen careers. We must all have a portfolio demonstrating what we have learned throughout the year. In conclusion, we are all very proud to be in this class.

Coby Sarfine, Middleburg and Zack Beaver, Lewisburg, evaluate the operation of a Buderus Boiler

HVAC
By: Coby Sarfine, Middleburg and Zach Beaver, Lewisburg

From basic to perfect, SUN Tech can teach you all you need to know for your future goals. This is one reason why we took this course. My name is Coby Sarfine, I am from Middleburg High School and my name is Zach Beaver and I am from Lewisburg High School. The main reason for us taking this course is because we know that there is a lot of money in Heating and air conditioning and an education from one of the most prestigious schools in our area will definitely improve any chances for success in the job market. This will make future plans open up as well as allow us more opportunities and make our future easier. Even with this school being able to give you all of these types of opportunities, it takes more than just the school to do it. Many months of preparation goes into every school year and into every project. It takes a lot of projects for just one year as well. We’ve put together things ranging from black iron pipe projects to copper pipe projects, from assembling boilers to putting a full size bathroom in, twice. Along with every new project we do, we get new partners and get graded on how well we work with others, as well as how well we work on our own and how well we use time given to us. Already this year, we have finished our plumbing curriculum and we’ve started our heating section, but by the end of the year the air conditioning part will be done too. With every project, new problems come, challenges, and ways of approaching them. Hopefully by the end of the year we will be fully prepared for each of them.

 

Heather Shughart, Mifflinburg, is working on CTech Network Cabling

Information Systems Technology
By: Heather Shughart, Mifflinburg
My name is Heather Shughart and I’m a 17 year old student from Mifflinburg Area School District. I’ve been given the opportunity to go to the SUN Area Career & Technology Center studying Information Technology. I’ve come to SUN Tech because I wanted to get a head start on my career training. The Information Technology program at Sun Tech allows me to start on my career path by preparing me to get my certifications in Cisco CCNA, Copper and Fiber Cabling, and A+ Computer maintenance. My future plans are undecided, but I would like to fin a full-time job in the Computer Business.
 

Masonry
By: Alicia Miles – Shikellamy

The SUN Area Career and Technology Center prepares students for a variety of positions available within their program. Juniors from local schools are given the opportunity to visit SUN Tech and catch a glimpse of a different type of education. My name is Alicia Miles and I have taken advantage of this opportunity and am currently attending SUN Tech in the masonry program.

In this program, students learn basic skills needed to acquire an entry level job position. Students will work with block, brick, stone, and tile, but it is
not all hands-on. This program also contains theory. In theory, students learn to estimate materials needed for job sites and as the year progresses, will learn to read and acquire information from blueprints.

Throughout the year, local communities ask our students to do small projects for them. So far this year, we put in an addition to a social hall for the New Berlin Fire Company. A lot of hard work and preparation goes into our project. Also this spring, we will be building a sign for the Monroe Township Municipal Building.

I chose to be a part of the masonry program because of its architectural beauty. SUN Tech gives students the opportunity to experience hands-on training in the field of their choice and graduate with a career. Thank you SUN Tech for giving me that opportunity.

 

Kyla Showalter, Mifflinburg and Chris Pulliam, Mifflinburg, man the security surveillance equipment.

Police Sciences
By: Kyla Showalter, Mifflinburg and Chris Pulliam, Mifflinburg

My name is Kyla Showalter and I am a senior at Mifflinburg Area High School. I am attending SUN Tech in the Police, Corrections, & Security Sciences class. I came to SUN Tech to learn about becoming a police officer and to study Criminal Justice.

My name is Chris Pulliam and I am also a senior at Mifflinburg Area High School and in the Police, Corrections, & Security Sciences class. I came to SUN Tech to get basic skills for the Armed Services after graduation. In our class we have learned building searches, surveillance, and the many different types of drugs.

We have taken some field trips to Bucknell University and the Susquehanna Valley Mall to see how their security system is operated. In the future we will be going on several other field trips, which include prisons and in May we will be going to Washington D.C. We have done various projects which include drug reports, report writing, handcuffing, a physical fitness report, and ethics report. For the drug report, we were given a drug and had to research it and make a brochure, watch a video on it, and make a power point presentation. Report writing is a skill that we had to learn because we will need it in the future if we continue our education in Criminal Justice. The physical fitness report was about why being fit was important to a police officer, prison guard, or whatever career we chose in this field. We wrote an ethics report to teach us the importance of being an ethical person, especially in our field, since the public trusts and depends on us tremendously.

After graduation, Chris and I have different plans. I would like to attend Mansfield University and major in Criminal Justice, and after college I would like to eventually become a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agent.) Chris hopes to become a federal prison guard after his service is finished.
 

Tom Brunson, Nick Hackenberg and John Miller

Precision Machining
By: Tom Brunson, Nick Hackenberg and John Miller

Hello our names are Tom Brunson, Nick Hackenberg, and John Miller. We are students at SUN Tech and attend the precision machining program. Tom and Nick are both students from Middleburg High School and John is a student from Mifflinburg High School. We are attending SUN Tech to prepare us for the future and become young, experienced additions to the modern day work force.

The students of our class have all attended this program for various reasons. The majority of my class came to SUN Tech for the job opportunities and to become skilled and successful machinists. The outlook for this occupation is excellent because of the demand for skilled machinists. Some of the students in our class joined this program for something new.

One of the best qualities about this program is our teacher who believes in hands-on experience and explains things thoroughly. We are instructed in the operation of lathes, milling machines, surface and pedestal grinders, and CNC machinery. Our class received a CNC lathe and two brand new engine lathes through grants this year that will help us become more experienced for the work force. We are also taught metal characteristics, heat treatment, and blue print reading. There are many opportunities to work on projects of your own in this program. This year these projects include manufacturing a tool for appliances, wing mounts for a ford escort, a sprocket for a bike, and tools for a local excavator for his machinery. In this program you learn to set up CNC machines such as the lathe and vertical milling machine, which make complex operations easier.

The students in our class all have various plans for the future. Nick plans on getting a Co-op job, then saving enough money to buy a CNC machining center to produce custom rims of his design. Another student plans on building racing engines after attending Penn Tech to get an associate degree. Most of the students in this program are just planning to get a job. The starting salaries for this occupation are rather high and in larger city areas the rates are even higher. The starting salary for a machinist ranges from 8 to11 dollars per hour plus. Some graduates of the program are making nearly 20 dollars an hour. Local manufacturers contact SUN Tech every year to hire new employees within the Co-op and placement programs.
 

Welding
By Matthew Jones, Mifflinburg and Terry Marshall, Shikellamy

Hello my name is Matthew Jones. I attended Mifflinburg Area High School before coming to SUN Tech my senior year. I decided to come to SUN Tech my sophomore year because I like to learn more hands on and to be creative other than reading books and sitting behind a desk. Many of my friends also told me about the curriculums of SUN Tech and I had decided that I wanted to go for Architectural drafting. My plans soon changed in my junior year. I realized that drawing on computers and sitting down all day wasn’t for me. I had taken a welding class my junior year and learned a lot so I wanted to pursue it more while realizing that maybe that was more along the line of something I would want to do in life. Now that I am in the Welding program here at SUN Tech my knowledge has grown very much on this career option.

Some of the things we can do in class is stick welding, mig welding, and many other procedures. We can also design our own parts, shapes, etc on a computer using a program such as a drafting class would. Then using our CNC or Computer Numerically Controlled plasma cutter have them cut out instead of being a print out on paper. We have also built some small projects not to really be used but to test our capability. One of the most recent projects was an air box that was tested to see if the welds would leak under water. We have also built some other projects this year such as broom racks, computer desks, and also repaired hockey goals for the Sunbury community. After I graduate my plans are to try and to get into the local welders union or at least find a good job with a local corporation.

My name is Terry Marshall and I am a senior at Shikellamy High School. This year I decided to go to SUN Area Career & Technology Center for the Welding Program. I have always been interested in welding and I have taken other welding classes at my high school. Mr.Hain, the welding teacher at SUN Area Career & Technology Center, has taught me various processes of welding for different jobs. In this class I am able to work at my own pace. I have done many projects including restoring ice hockey goals for the Sunbury Community Center and I welded a customed tool for another student at SUN Tech. I have had the opportunity to use a Computer Numerically Controlled Plasma cutter, which cuts different shapes out of metal. To do our project we may use a computer and then save our designs on a disc and load it onto the CNC cutter. After I graduate from SUN Area Career & Technology Center, I plan to attend Penn College to earn a Bachelors Degree in Welding.

David Boyer, Mifflinburg and Tom Brady, Shikellamy, display their creations.

Wood Products Manufacturing
By David Boyer, Mifflinburg and Tom Brady, Shikellamy

My name is David C. Boyer. I am the son of Franklin D. and Christy A. Boyer. I will be a graduate of the class of 2003 at Mifflinburg Area High School.
I am currently attending Sun Area Career and Technology Center my senior year because of the outstanding reputation Sun Tech holds as a Technical Institution. Sun Tech has a hands-on learning environment. As I was growing up I realized I learn best with hands-on experiences, rather than reading a textbook. I love the work-like environment offered at Sun Tech.

Mr. Romig the “Wood Wizard” instructs Wood Products Manufacturing and this man knows everything there is to know about woodworking. In this class you will become problem solvers. You will also learn how to use, repair, and maintain the machines you use everyday. People used to think Wood Products Manufacturing was nothing more than cabinet making, but it has advanced into more than just that. We are building things from small picture frames to a full size bed. We are taught the basics first. As the year progress the more advanced techniques used in today’s modern woodworking are taught.

Since the beginning of the school year, I have made repairs to the original, and built two duplicate full size baby cradles, laminated cutting boards some with wooden edges, finished a TV. Stand, built two nightstands, and have machined rocking chairs and bookcases on our Komo CNC Router, I have assembled picture frames that expand from wallet size to 8x10 pictures, and constructed a queen size bed made of solid oak.

My future plans are still undecided, however, I would like to go on to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA to advance my skills and eventually open my own workshop. I may also consider joining one of our armed forces and put in a few years. Sun Tech offers a co-op program that will provide me the opportunities to join the growing work force after graduation. The experiences gain from Sun Tech will be valuable to me when I finally take my first steps into the real world, Thanks to Sun Tech.

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