By Laura Delvecchio, Assistant Director of BCCTC
The Region I ACTE High-Quality CTE Programming Conference took place Wednesday, April 24th through Friday, April 26th at the Community College of Beaver County. The professional development program featured a vast range of breakout topics to meet the interest of all attending the Region I conference. Along with the breakout sessions, conference attendees were invited to participate in tours to the Shell Oil Company Ethylene Cracker Plan, Pocket Nurse Medical Equipment Provider Plant, Beaver County Career & Technology Center, and the Community College of Beaver County Campuses.
Students from the Beaver County Career & Technology Center were invited to speak at the opening ceremony of the conference and were asked to speak about how the career center has influenced their career choice and educational journey as well as the impact the Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), has had on their lives . Tristan Fitzgerald, a Blackhawk senior from the Business Information Systems, spoke about his experience with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Business Information Systems program. Tristan was also asked to lead the crowd in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students from the Western Beaver School District, Maddie Hill from the Electrical Occupations program and Rebecca Shepler from the Welding program at the career center also spoke on their experiences as females in male dominated programs. Mr. David A Wytiaz, the Administrative Director at the Beaver County Career & Technology Center, and Dr. Roger Davis, the President of the Community College of Beaver County, did a welcome to the audience at the start of the conference.