May 2, 2017 | Article
Recently, Milford High School & Applied Technology Center held its fifth STEM event for 4th and 5th grade students and parents, but the real story is what has taken place behind the scenes in recent years. According to Frank Xydias, high school engineering teacher at Milford High School, the concept of these “STEM Nights” all started in the fall of 2014.
“The idea was suggested at the engineering advisory board meeting as a way to keep non-traditional enrollment up,” he noted. “It was suggested by Kathy Carson, a parent of one of my female students. At the time, we had consecutive years of 40% non-traditional enrollment and the numbers were decreasing.”
Kathy, whose daughter Jen (now a high school senior) coordinated activities for the first few events, said the initial emphasis was on attracting girls.
“It was important to have a girls only event once the kids reached middle school, as that is the age where the girls start to step back and let the boys take over in STEM related tasks,” she said. “We wanted to make sure the girls had a chance to put their hands on things and do the experiments themselves versus watching the boys doing everything.”
Kathy said she in fact wished she had had more guidance growing up herself.
“When I was growing up, there was far less guidance in choosing a path for college, especially for girls,” she said. “I was over 40 before I really understood what an Engineer did. Looking back, if I had known such a career path was an option for me in High School, I may have pursued Engineering instead of Accounting.
Noting she has been in the engineering program since her freshman year, Jen said she knew from her first course that she wanted to go into an engineering field. Acknowledging that she is also aware of the gender gap with enrollment, she said she wanted to help work on STEM Nights because she herself “knew next to nothing about engineering going into high school.”
“If one of my friends hadn’t convinced me to take the intro class my freshman year, I would most likely be going down a completely different career path,” she said. “The events were extremely fun to both plan and run. I am a huge fan of working with kids, so I loved running the stations and getting to work with them one-on-one.”
With college just around the corner, Jen said she plans to attend the University of Rochester and major in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Materials Sciences. After college, she said she would like to enter the sports engineering field to design and analyze equipment.
“The STEM classes at MHS have fostered my interest and showed me that engineering is more than just boys working with machinery,” she said.
The results
According to Xydias, their efforts—as well as that of others—to attract more girls to STEM have led to tangible results.
“In the summer, I teach a series of summer camps at Manchester Community College—and in the summer of 2014, we had to cancel the Girls Camp due to low enrollment,” he said. “In the summer of 2015, we were at capacity for the Girls Camp and 50-80% female enrollment for the other co-ed camps. About 25% of the participants in each camp came from the Girls in STEM night held in the fall or spring.”
Echoing sentiments expressed by Xydias, Don Jalbert, director of technical studies at Milford High School, cited strong community support in making STEM Nights successful. He credited the efforts of
members of their various Program Advisory Committees in particular.
“These partners set-up ‘booths’ similar to what you would see at a trade show,” he said. “They bring demonstrations as well as swag to share with the participants. Parents that choose to remain in the school during the event also have an opportunity to meet these business and industry partners. Representatives from various campuses of CCSNH have also participated as vendors.’”
Also crediting the support of Milford School District Superintendent Bob Marquis as instrumental, Jalbert said he believes they are building some momentum.
“We are very hopeful that what we are building will eventually turn into a K-12 effort that will highlight STEM as an integral part of everyday life in school and beyond,” he said.
Apr 12, 2017 | Article
On April 13, approximately 300 people are expected to attend the 2nd Annual Career Fair, which this year will also include the general public in addition to students. 20 vendors will be in attendance.
According to Pinkerton Academy’s Manager of Career Services, Doug Cullen, the purpose behind the fair is two-fold. It provides younger high school students with a greater awareness of businesses in their community and gives older high school students and the general public the opportunity to connect with hiring employers and resume writing professionals.
“We want to assure the community knows how important it is to bring employers together with students as a natural part of the education process,” he said. “It’s also a chance for the people in our community looking for employment to see Pinkerton Academy as a resource to make connections.”
He said the fair was intentionally placed just hours before the Southern N.H. College Fair in the Hackler Gymnasium so students and adults could have their resume reviewed and refined. He noted they can also meet with staffing agencies and employers with the possibility to secure on-the-spot an employment interview. Additionally, attendees can meet with colleges to enroll in a course-of-study that supports their future employment career pathway “all in one day on one campus.”
As for how the day will unfold, he said Pinkerton students will arrive at 11:30am and can select to immediately meet with vendors or attend a workshop at 11:45am on resume writing courtesy of the MAHRA. Students with resumes can have them “tweaked” at the Resume Review booth also courtesy of MAHRA. At 12:30pm, school will end and the process will repeat for the general public in attendance at 1:00pm with the first Resume Writing session at 1:30pm. The event will end by 3:30pm.
“Other schools have been invited, too, starting at 1:00pm,” Cullen said.
Jennifer Haskins, Career and Technical Education Director added, “The Career Fair scheduled here at Pinkerton Academy is a great way to give our students the ability to continue moving along their career pathway and start to plan beyond high school. These pathways could be college, career certifications, apprenticeships or going directly into the workforce. The students here at Pinkerton have an opportunity to network within their career fields with not only employers that are currently hiring, but those that are looking for future hires.”
She said some of the career pathways represented have tuition reimbursement, signing bonuses and provide the ability to move up within the company.
“These are all strong characteristics to consider while students move along this pathway and decide how they are going to continue to learn within their career of choice,” she said.
The fair will be followed by the Southern N.H. College Fair in the Hackler Gymnasium at 6:00pm where attendees can meet more than 100 colleges and participate in workshops on best practices in planning financial aid for college.
“Students can obtain information about leading GAP Year vendors, or understand how to articulate from New Hampshire’s community colleges to our university system in simple, easy steps,” said Cullen.
Lynne Lonergan, Director of Pinkerton Academy’s Adult Education Center, added, “This is also a fantastic opportunity to make connections with our Adult Education students who are ready and willing to learn about specific job tasks and the ‘soft skills’ required for success by becoming a Career Mentor.”
Kristy Butler, incoming Director of School Counseling, said the Career Fair is an exciting opportunity for Pinkerton Students of all ages. For those who are preparing to graduate, she said it will connect students with employers and allow them an opportunity to have their resumes fine-tuned.
“Younger students can learn about what employers are looking for, or the fair might present an opportunity for part-time work or internships,” she said. “We want our students to be involved with ‘real life’ employers, employers who can offer feedback to our students while they also learn about what our students have to offer them as future employees with valuable skills.”
The Fair is sold out; so companies looking to register for the 3rd Annual Career Fair in 2018 should contact Cullen at dcullen@pinkertonacademy.org or 603.437.5200 x1141 to reserve a booth soon.
Mar 25, 2017 | Article
In February, the NH Insurance Department along with several insurance professional groups promoted the Insurance Industry as a career choice. According to Fran DeCinto, Director of Planning and Personnel at the NH Insurance Department, referred to the job outlook for careers in the insurance industry as “fantastic.”
“By 2020, the industry will create more than 400,000 job opportunities as a result of Baby Boomers retiring,” she said. “Some of the trends in the Insurance Industry include the increase in autonomous vehicles, companies such as Uber, Lyft and AirBNB, and drones. These are all areas that are complex and exciting from an insurance point of view.”
As for what she hopes resulted from Insurance Careers Month in February, she cited the understanding that there is substantially more to the insurance industry than “just selling insurance.”
“There are opportunities for students interested in accounting, marketing, IT, HR and the legal field to name just a few,” she said. “Students should consider a career in insurance because it is a very stable field, it can be very lucrative, and it is ever-changing.”
According to the NH Insurance department, potential careers in the industry include, but are not restricted to the following: Underwriting, Information Technology, Claims, Actuary, Marketing , Sales, Loss Control, Financial Analyst, Attorney, Paralegal, and Human Resources.
For teachers who have an interest in talking about insurance as a possible career option to their students, she suggested they visit https://www.insuremypath.org/resources/industry-tools. She said the website provides a curriculum for teachers to embed insurance into their own teaching.
As for one of the main reasons for why they promote the industry so heavily for an entire month, DeCinto cited a talent shortage in New Hampshire. “It’s due to our aging population and the fact that many of the younger generation are leaving the state,” she said. “There are more jobs than people and that is specifically true in the insurance industry.”
With those factors in mind, she said a career in the Insurance Industry could be quite lucrative.
“Many insurance companies, agencies and insurance regulators are willing to hire college graduates with no experience,” she added.
To learn more about the NH Insurance Department, click the following links.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NHInsuranceDepartment
Twitter: @NHInsuranceDept
Other useful links:
https://insurancecareerstrifecta.org
https://www.insuremypath.org/industry/why-work-in-insurance
Mar 21, 2017 | Article, Uncategorized
Braving blustery elements at the University of New Hampshire on March 11, several dozen students from 7 high schools came together to compete at the NH State ProStart Competition. The stakes were high, as the winner represents the state at the National ProStart Competition in South Carolina in April, while individuals on each of the top three teams win scholarships.
Scholarships were provided by Culinary Institute of America, Culinary Institute of Virginia, Johnson & Wales University, Louisiana Culinary Institute, New England Culinary Institute, and The Art Institute. Sponsorships by were provided by FeedNH.org, High Liner Foods, EcoLab, Kittredge Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, Performance Foodservice- NorthCenter, and UNH.
Pinkerton Academy fielded two teams with Team 2 winning the competition, which thrilled Pinkerton Instructor, Chef Mark Cahill.
“First place in this very competitive competition has eluded us for several years now,” he explained. “We have a good balance now with my partner Keith, a new CTE Director, and some of the best students I have had the honor and pleasure of leading through this exciting and rewarding time in their lives. Through their strength, determination, and dedication we have all become champions.”
Citing his students’ attention to every detail–right to “the bitter end”–as instrumental, he congratulated every team that competed.
“Congratulations to all of the culinary teams involved,” he added. “Each and every one of them did a phenomenal job on Saturday.”
In addition to Pinkerton, other teams involved at the competition included Concord Regional Technical Center, Creteau Regional Technology Center, Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, Mount Washington Valley Career & Technical Center, Plymouth Applied Technology Center, and Portsmouth High School.
Results
Winner- Pinkerton Academy
2nd Place- Mount Washington Valley Career & Technical Center
3rd Place- Concord Regional Technology Center
Mike Somers, President and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association, said this year’s competition was incredibly competitive with just 10 points separating the first and last place team.
“Every school came with focus, purpose, and a cheering squad,” he said. “We had approximately 100 people in attendance, which is an awesome turn out for NH ProStart. The New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association Education Foundation is so proud of the students and their teachers. All of the teams put forth an incredible amount of effort leading up to and during the competition. We wish Pinkerton Academy the best of luck at Nationals.”
To learn more about the NHLRA, visit https://www.nhlra.com.
Mar 7, 2017 | Article, Culinary Arts
On March 11 at the University of New Hampshire, 7 high school teams will compete at the NH State ProStart Competition with the opportunity to represent NH at the National ProStart Competition in South Carolina in April.
At the state competition, participating teams will demonstrate their respective creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes with just two butane burners and without any access to running water or electricity.
“It’s pretty intense—it’s wonderful to watch,” said Chef Gary Sheldon, who started ProStart competitions in both Maine and New Hampshire.
Currently in charge of ensuring all participating schools adhere to ProStart guidelines he helped develop, Sheldon said successful completion of the program positions graduates for long-term success in the industry.
“In the competitions, the students must do a cost analysis on their recipes and work with others as an actual team,” he noted. “That’s what I love about ProStart—it’s what real life is all about. Students also earn ‘passports’ after completing ProStart, which gets them scholarship money to any post-secondary school in the country.”
Education Programs Coordinator at the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association (NHLRA), Amie Pariseau said ProStart can have a tremendous impact on students and on their future employment in the lodging and restaurant industries.
“While celebrating the competition and our hard-working students, we hope to showcase that culinary is a fun, lifelong potential vocation and bring awareness to the educational opportunities available,” she said.
For Robert Mcintosh, instructor in the Culinary Arts with Baking at Concord Regional Technical Center, the experiences offered within CTE programming helps build soft skills that are necessary to succeed in business and in life.
“Teamwork, communication, and professionalism all help prepare a student to be successful in the workplace and are part of teaching any trade,” he said. “What most students start to understand is how much of an integral part they play in day to day life as well. Not all my students stay in the culinary field, but all the ones that stay in touch talk about how the soft skills they learned in a CTE class helped them talk to bosses, professors and how comfortable they are working with people in their field.”
Instructor in the culinary program at Portsmouth Career Technical Center, Chef Perrin Long said this year represents his team’s fourth time at the NH State ProStart Competition. His team made it to the nationals in both 2014 (Minneapolis) and 2015 (Disney-Anaheim), although he acknowledged they ran into some issues last year.
“Our menu was too aggressive and we did not place,” he said. “This year, the students have designed their own menu and the ‘buy in’ they have in the process is tremendous.”
Echoing sentiments express by Sheldon, he said competitions like ProStart help strengthen and build students’ abilities.
“Students that compete are typically much more advanced than their counterparts because of the exposure they have had during practices, critiques and the competition,” he said.
According to Pariseau, her role is to try and build and strengthen relationships with—and between—both school districts and hotel/restaurant industry professionals.
“We are trying to build the next big thing for students in this industry,” she said. “We also strongly believe in ProStart and other education programs out there and the impact they have on students and their ability to enter the workforce.”
Expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming state competition, Sheldon said the demand in industry for individuals who have completed ProStart and CTE culinary programs has never been greater.
“I get calls all the time from people in industry looking for skilled help,” he said. “Students in ProStart are developing professional skills so they can walk into any restaurant and they are not lost. These kids are the industry’s future…I’ll take a ProStart kid over any journeyman cook who has been in the field for 15 years.”
