NHCTE, the statewide professional association that advances and supports career and technical education (CTE) is thrilled to announce the 2025 CTE Unsung Hero of the Year. This year’s honoree is Steve Chasse, President of SL Chasse Steel in Hudson, NH. Annually the Unsung Hero Award recognizes a member of the greater CTE community who goes above and beyond to support and advance CTE programs and students.
Steve Chasse has been an invaluable partner in ensuring the success of career and technical education welding programs across the state in addition to strong individual partnerships at Pinkerton Academy’s Center for Career and Technical Education in Derry and the Wilbur H. Palmer Career and Technical Center in Hudson. Their commitment to student growth and hands-on learning has made a lasting impact on both educators and the future workforce. Their investment in our students’ futures exemplifies the power of industry partnerships, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration for years to come.
Their generosity is evident through their donations of large-scale equipment, providing students with industry-standard tools to enhance their skills and training. Beyond material support, SL Chasse has actively engaged with students by visiting classrooms to share industry insights, offering professional learning opportunities for our teachers, and directly assisting students with specialized welding techniques.
Additionally, SL Chasse has gone above and beyond by creating work-based learning opportunities, offering employment to students, and establishing a local competition that allows students to collaborate and compete with peers from other schools. Their dedication to workforce development and education is truly commendable, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support.
Steve will be honored on June 7, 2025 at the 31st annual New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards (EDies). NHCTE/NHCTA could not be more thankful to Steve who has worked tirelessly to support CTE programs and students. Congratulations!
At Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC), which serves the ConVal School District and Jaffrey-Rindge School District, an emphasis on work-based learning (WBL) has led to an innovative partnership with Phaze Welding Technology Center. “Their welding program offers students the most authentic work-based learning experience we can offer as part of a Region 14 ATC course,” said ATC Director Jennifer Kiley.
Daniel Guillou, PHAZE Owner and Instructor, referred to it as an accelerated program, one they developed in partnership with the high school and the Department of Education. “It is not a traditional program that you would see in a typical school setting,” he explained. “There is a lot of information in a short period of time.”
To be successful in the program, Guillou said PHAZE assesses individual needs to create customized lesson plans so each student can earn industry certification. “The program is not graded,” he noted. “It is pass or fail, and failure is not something we accept, so we work very hard to get everyone to pass.”
While PHAZE does not engage in job placement, Guillou cited “a huge network in the welding industry.” “I share my network, and it is up to the student to make that relationship work with those contacts,” he said. “This is an introduction to the top of the ladder. The owners and CEOs at the top executive branch are the ones to get the resumes, and they walk to HR and have them schedule a test. These students bypass the usual process.”
The program, which began in early winter 2020, has already paid dividends for students. Out of the first cohort of students to go through the program, three out of five are working in the field and welding for local companies. “One of our students, Cale Skillings, just completed an internship with American Steel,” said Kiley, who said feedback has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the program.
“They are treated like adults with all of the respect and responsibility that goes with that,” she said. “If the students commit themselves to the work and the program, Dan is willing to work with them to meet their needs and allow them creativity.”
“Their welding program offers students the most authentic work-based learning experience we can offer as part of a Region 14 ATC course,” said ATC Director Jennifer Kiley.
According to Guillou, the program underscores a critical need for welders in the area of which he said there are few. “SoClean Inc. needed safety railings built for their loading docks,” he explained. “The high school kids and I designed and installed the railings for SoClean.”
He said the students were able to learn the whole process to repair, build, and manufacture, while also acquiring more of an idea of what is involved with the whole manufacturing process. “The only thing the students are not learning is the time factor of people wanting it done ‘yesterday,’” he said.
Working with industry partners and community groups, Kiley said they were able to fund 5 students from Antrim to pilot the class. “The ConVal School Board has been generous in supporting this program through the local budget, allowing us to pay for 12 students’ tuition per school year,” she said. “Many students elect to continue their work after the school day and on weekends.”
For Guillou, the takeaway for the students is clear. “One of the most valued things kids get out of it is they are learning something that will immediately apply to their life when they get out of high school,” he said.
Serving the ConVal School District and the Jaffrey-Rindge School District, Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) is one of 28 CTE centers throughout New Hampshire.
Offering training for high school students and the general public, PHAZE is located in Peterborough, NH. To learn more click here.
On April 2 at Nashua Community College, high school juniors and seniors are invited to Industry & Transportation/Manufacturing Career Discovery Day, an opportunity to learn about their various transportation and manufacturing programs.
Transportation programs include Automotive Technology, Aviation Technology, Collision Repair Technology and Honda Automotive Technology, while manufacturing programs feature Precision Manufacturing, CNC and Mechanical Design Technology.
“We have invited many of our industry partners from both the transportation and manufacturing industries,” said Samantha Belcourt, CTE Coordinator of Continuing Education, Nashua Community College. “Many of our partners also serve on program advisory boards, which help inform curriculum and ensures that our graduates are career ready.”
These relationships, she said, are crucial.
“They keep our programs current and relevant to the needs of industry,” she added.
Belcourt said the event is not just geared toward students with experiences in these fields.
“Seniors at the high school level who have not had exposure to these type industries are under the misconception that they cannot pursue a degree in these fields,” she said. “These programs, however, welcome students with all backgrounds and experiences.”
According to Karl Wunderlich, Department Chair of Transportation, Nashua Community College, the event also underscores the educational value available with the Community College System of New Hampshire.
“Why spend $100,000.00 or more on a four year education and not be able to earn that back within 5 years?” he rhetorically noted. “Our 2-year degree, for example, costing about $25,000.00 including tools, can help a student earn higher wages and more job security. A graduate working in this industry for 5 years can earn $100,000 annually or more.”
He said job placement in these fields for graduates is nearly “instant.”
“The rate of new people coming into this field is not keeping pace with those reaching retirement age,” he added. “All types of jobs available.”
Belcourt agreed and said community college education relies on partnerships with both educational leaders and industry partners.
“We depend on our industry partners to help align our programs with industry standards,” she said. “We can not only set the right expectations for out students, but create career pathways.”
Any educator interested in bringing their students to campus for Career Discovery Day can RSVP to NCC Admissions Director Laura Tremblay at ltremblay@ccsnh.edu.
Students at the Berlin Regional Career and Technical Education Center’s Welding Program sweep the skills USA state championships placing 1st, Noah Cornish 2nd, Jason Binette and 3rd, John Arquin. The Berlin Regional Career and Technical Center’s Welding programs instructor is the longtime teacher and welding instructor Dennis Carrier. He is no stranger to going to nationals. He has created many amazing welders for years. This year’s class is very special to him. Berlin will represent the state in Louisville, KY at the national championships in June!!
The Barrington Police Department needed pass through lockers for evidence collection. Lockers will be installed into a wall where officers will place seized evidence into the locked lockers on the outside and the people working inside can collect the items in the morning. These are usually very expensive, but the Seacoast School of Technology Welding Technologies students were able to fabricate them for just over a $100!
