The North Country Career Center is overwhelmed and so grateful for the community response to the Breast Cancer Raffle which was a huge success beyond our imagination.  Part of the magic was observing students engaging in a cause that supported one of our teachers and our greater community. Watching students create many of the raffle prizes using the skills they have learned in their programs superbly demonstrates what career and technical education is all about. We also have a talented and generous staff. Congratulations to all the prize winners, each of whom have been contacted. Thanks again for all your support!

Congratulations to Natural Resources students for successfully completing 4 days of 'Game of Logging' and earning this valuable certification.  Ian Irwin from Northeast Woodland Training put them through their paces and certified their skills in felling trees, limbing and bucking techniques, spring poles, cutting large diameter double bore and small diameter back leaning techniques, how to get hung up trees down (cutting and mechanical advantage) and techniques for cutting dead and storm damaged trees.

With great enthusiasm and wide smiles, The Mobile Mug Team from North Country Union High School presented a generous gift to Mrs. Jaminet in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  These students offer a great service to our wider school community providing hot morning beverages and baked goods.  Students are learning important skills and more importantly are connecting with their wider community on the most important level - showing compassion and care for others. Thanks to Cheryl Bugbee, their teacher and mentor, and the great staff who work with all these students.

Tia Judd is a very busy person! In addition to teaching Business Leadership & Marketing which includes overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Falcon's Nest -  the NCCC school store, she is in the final stages of completing her MBA.  She is the FBLA Advisor for NCCC and has a wealth of financial acumen through her diverse experience at the Community National Bank.  Her passion is operating a family farm with her husband Tyler, spending countless hours sugaring, haying, caring for animals and of course chasing her two young sons.  Her newly discovered past time is line dancing - this happens anywhere and often!

Human Services students got a special visit from Tessa, a K9 for the US Border Patrol.  Tessa worked with her partner, Scott Gilson - US Border Patrol Supervisor, Tod Phillabaum - US Customs & Border Protection Supervisor and Laurel Grenier - US Customs Mission Support Specialist to demonstrate and offer a wealth of information about these protective services professions. The CPB organization manages the US borders by combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection.  Kudos to Ms. Santaw, Human Services Instructor who brings in a variety of professionals throughout the year who offer career pathway information, and often work based learning opportunities for career exploration.  

Laurie Jacobs,  Cosmetology Instructor, and her students recently did a Fall tour including the Empire Beauty School to explore further education in Aesthetics and Barber training.  As an added bonus, students visited Sullivan Beauty, a product distributor for professional cosmetologists.  Word has it that students and Ms. Jacobs took full advantage of this retail opportunity!

NCCC + NCH = Education, Learning & Career Opportunities! North Country Hospital is a precious resource for our students and our community - thirty one NCCC Health Sciences students made the trip to Montpelier to proudly stand up for this vital institution. The focal point was a press conference on the State House steps given by Newport Mayor Linda Joy Sullivan, NCH CEO Tom Frank, Chris Vachon - President of the Newport City Council, and Clark Curtis - Newport City Council member.  Students got a State House impromptu tour, a picnic lunch on the grounds and made it back in time for a NCUHS pep rally!  

NCCC needs you - actually your extra veggies or donations of personal care products - a financial boost is always welcome too! We are looking for non-perishable food, farm fresh eggs, extra veggies from the last fall harvest, and a range of new personal care items from hair products, dental care, and of course personal hygiene (deodorant, body wash - no bar soap please).  

Did you know that hundreds of students use the Personal Care Closet and the Community Fridge at school?  There is no cost to students, no questions asked and through the the grace and generosity of this community many immediate and ongoing needs of our students are met.

Please contact Andrea Carbine at 802.334.7921 x 3306 andrea.carbine@ncsuvt.org or Heidi Santanw, 802.334.7921 x 3402, heidi.santaw@ncsuvt.org to make a donation.

NCCC Student Voice: Hear our Voices -  'Values, Opportunities, Integrity, Community, Equity & Service'. About thirty community minded students met to work on special events, student-led assemblies, reaching out to middle school and elementary students, and improving NCCC culture and practice.  Access to career center programs for all students is a big issue. The energy, passion and creativity is inspiring and overwhelming!  

Thanks to Kathy Gray and Ben Wells, Student Voice Advisors and Harry Frank, UP For Learning Liaison.

NCCC FBLA students along with advisors Ms. Judd and Ms. Jaminet, attended the Fall Leadership Conference  at Norwich University.  Students got a campus tour from a Cadet Corps member, attended important workshops around teen mental health and suicide awareness - Norah Beads and project HOePpnEr, and dabbled in a stock market simulation.  It was a great day of learning and connecting with other Vermont FBLA chapters.

NCCC Transportation Science Students reap the benefit every day of an experienced and diverse group of experts (in addition to their two great instructors; Ms C & Mr C - no relation!) who offer time, wisdom and individual attention across  numerous skill sets. More importantly they are great listeners and offer students the chance to communicate and forge strong relationships.

NCCC supports and thanks North Country Hospital! For decades NCCC Health Sciences students have accessed North Country Hospital for clinical rotations and here is a new group of students ready to experience, observe, learn, be inspired and reflect.  This adventure through the diverse operations from the Emergency Department to the Pharmacy often results in clarification of career pathways and specialization.  Many of these students become allied health care professionals because of these clinical experiences and live and work in this community. Our educational institution is stronger and better because of this enduring collaboration.  A fully functioning hospital is important for students' futures and for the overall health of this NEK community.

The NCCC/NCUHS STEM Academy takes flight thanks to the BETA Technologies Mobile Dome.  A converted Airstream technology marvel took up residence for the day and offered an immersive experiential flight simulation in the Thunderdome and through virtual reality. The amazing BETA team (big thanks Dave, Dean, Mike & Willa!) spent time coaching students and a few lucky staff members on the equipment, offered insight into the manufacturing and technology of the ALIA VTOL aircraft, and provided information about career pathways in the aerospace industry.

BETA Technologies is a Vermont based aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft for the cargo, medical passenger, and military aviation industries.  

Jaden Gallup had an exemplary track record as a student at NCCC;  Two years of Welding, one year of Mechatronics, a Vermont Presidential CTE Scholar, President of SkillsUSA in her Senior Year, and the list goes on.....

She has continued to thrive and is now apprenticing to become a Journeyman with The IronWorkers Union in Connecticut.  Jaden has worked on multiple projects at many sites and travels to work on large structural installations primarily of aluminum and steel. She credits a portion of her success to her career center programs enhanced by a D1.1 Welding certification, OSHA 10 training and AutoCad in Mechatronics which has increased her fluency with blueprints.  She has successfully integrated a strong work ethic, welding skills, and the grit to compete in a non-traditional career pathway - very inspiring! 

It's never too early to start planning for the future!  The Transportation Science Technology Program recently invited Tom Larose, University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), to present training programs and majors, financial aid, campus life, extracurriculars and so much more - check out the racing program.  Post-secondary planning is an important component of Career & Technical education and NCCC looks forward to hosting a variety of guest speakers from admission representatives to alumni to share the vast array of possibilities.

https://www.unoh.edu/

Heavy Equipment students Jacob Ashman, Cameron Desrochers and Ethan Moulton kicked off a big event at the NCCC Land Lab with a comprehensive tour of this amazing facility.  The Land Lab sits on 65 pristine acres off the Quarry Road in Derby and is home to three excellent programs;  Building Trades, Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance, and Natural Resources.  The students led the tour for a variety of state and local personnel and spoke about student engagement through experiential and work based learning opportunities, foundational safety training, collaboration and professionalism in the skilled trades, the range of activities, and promising career pathways after graduation. 

Congrats to the newly licensed NCCC Cosmetology Class of 2024!  Students tested on May 19 for their Vermont State License and successfully completed a written and practical exam.  This is the culmination of two rigorous years of over 1,000 hours in the classroom and salon practicing, refining and perfecting a number of skills sets.  These students have demonstrated perseverance, commitment and passion for this career pathway. Huge thanks to Laurie Jacobs, Cosmetology Instructor who prepares students so comprehensively with her mastery level skills and dedication to this profession. 

NCCC's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) student organization is on a roll!  Tia Judd was named 'New FBLA Chapter Advisor of the Year', membership grew exponentially, two Business Leadership & Marketing students served as state officers; Hannah Erickson as State Historian and Ashton Shedd as State Reporter, several students took top honors at the State competition and are heading to Nationals, and to top it all off the local chapter achieved the Gold level of Champion Chapter program.  

The importance of relationships in education is recognized as a critical factor in student success and yes, happiness.  NCCC recently lost a member of our school community, Shermie Dehoff,  who touched the lives of hundreds of students and many of our staff and faculty.  This relationship was as elemental as they come and could best be characterized by the simplicity and the deep bond that was created so seamlessly. The science supporting the benefits of human-animal relationships is incontrovertible.

On a more personal note, Shermie was a NCCC ambassador for Animal Science students and often a class subject for scientific study. He had been adopted as a senior dog by Emily Dehoff, Animal Systems Science & Conservation Instructor, and came from a difficult situation. With love, patience and kindness he grew to trust, and loved coming to school and interacting with students.  This transformation in itself is an important lesson for students who wish to pursue a career working with animals.

Thank you North Country Hospital for another year of clinical rotations for Health Sciences Year 1 students. This amazing opportunity allows students to rotate through the myriad of departments and career pathways in the Allied Health Professions. These experiences are often the catalyst in helping students decide on a specific field of post-secondary study. An added bonus is connecting with NCCC/NCUHS alum who are working every day in many departments and passing on their knowledge, experience and professionalism to the next wave. Special thanks yesterday to pharmacists Hillary Chase (Class of 2012) and Jillian Donovan (Class of 2011).

Question: 205 elementary students (NCSU & OCSU) + 1 large rat + 14 STEM activities + 1 excited Math Teacher (Genevieve Hamby) + 60 STEM Academy High School Students + 1 Vermont Air National Guard Tech Sgt (thank you Jesse Tynan) + A LOT of support from the maintenance staff, bus drivers, support staff, counselors, and teachers = ???

Answer: A really amazing, engaging, active and fun 4th Grade STEM Fair! 

Many thanks to Jessica Riley and the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter staff for the time, energy and expertise that was shared with the Animal Systems Science & Conservation Program. Students worked with felines practicing basic physical exams including cardiovascular, respiratory, ear and eye checks, and information on common parasites and pathogens.  NCCC programs continue to flourish due to the numerous NEK community partnerships that offer students rich, experiential opportunities that exponentially add to classroom instruction. 

NCCC is very proud to announce that Tia Judd, Business Leadership & Marketing Instructor, was honored at the FBLA state conference as 'New FBLA Chapter Advisor of the Year'. Her students, Ashton Shedd, FBLA State Reporter, and Hannah Erickson, FBLA State Historian, both gave speeches that recognized the significant contribution Ms. Judd has made to their education and the NCCC local FBLA chapter. Tia has increased FBLA participation exponentially and mentored her students to excel in business skills from public speaking and presenting to digital citizenship and marketing. She is a highly accomplished and motivated member of the NCCC teaching team and models professionalism at the highest level every day in her work. 

There was a lot to celebrate at the FBLA State Competition! Students demonstrated a high level of skill and professionalism across numerous events with some amazing outcomes.  Every student who participated went through numerous trainings, testing and then a full day of competition.  Kudos to Tia Judd who prepared her students so well and congratulations to all the students who took on the challenges; Makenna Bean, Taylor Bingham, Martina Blodgett, Bria Bouchard, Armand Capron, Ryan Descheneau, Travis Driver, Morgan Dunn, Hannah Erickson, Ben Fearino, Jael Francis, Jacob Hastings, Carolyn Ladouceur, Landyn Machado, Lauren Mead, Ash Nadeau, Jason Pelletier,  Athena Rossell, Cally Sanville, Ashton Shedd and Destiny Wright. 

NCCC is back in action and recently Shaye Collins, former FFA state officer,  opened his SweetWater Hatchery for Animal  Systems Science & Conservation students to study the life cycle of the trout as part of the fisheries biology unit. Ted Snell, from Orleans Country Natural Resources Conservation District, graciously visited the classroom to teach students about salmon and stream ecology.  Big thanks to all the community members that support this program, fisheries biology, and FFA. 

Congrats to the newest Vermont State Motor Vehicle Inspectors who were put through their paces by DMV personnel on written and practical testing today.  Thank you to the DMV team of Detective Curtis Wilkin and Inspectors Cindy Costello, Tyler Duczeminski and Keith Randall. Transportation Science Technology students Abby Costa, Jason Eastman, Tristan Farnham, Owen Hoyt, Ethan Kotelnicki, Spencer Marquette, Nevaeh Morse, Aspen Perrault-Guyette, Alex Perron, Cally Sanville, Jonathan Sylvester, and Justin Young all passed with flying colors.  Big thanks to Instructor Karen Chitambar and Lab Supervisor Gerard Chapdelaine who work hard every day to help students gain skills, confidence and these important Industry Recognized Credentials. 

Welding students are acquiring industry certifications that will serve them well in their post-secondary plans.  Congrats to the following students for qualifying for the  D 1.1 Unlimited Certification - Alexis Derouchie, Treyvor Fletcher, Jesse Hamblett, Ezra Lackie, Brodrick Langmaid, Mathieu Smith & Mckenna Ward; and the D 1.1 Limited Structural Steel Certification - Jayden Choquette, Danivyn Daggett, Hayden Gosselin, Caleb Grenier, Ryan Guillette, Maddox Lakin, Logan Lantagne, Connor Marckres & Sam Randall.  Thanks as always to Ben Wells, Welding & Metal Fabrication Instructor, for his excellent preparation and instructional efforts with all students.  

'Job well done!' - five confident students stepped up to do a job skills demonstration for a panel of community judges to celebrate SkillsUSA week.  The students prepared a comprehensive yet concise presentation of a specific skill and 'taught' the skill to the judges. Skills ranged from the technical aspects of using power tools, to CPR & AED with the highest honors going to AJ Esposito who demonstrated how to create an activity for elder care residents using the skills and knowledge from his Lifespan Developmental Psychology class.  Many thanks to the community members Graham Rae, Jennifer Palmieri & Dallas Willey (Department of Labor) and Julie Laforce (Built by Newport). 

It is with great pleasure that NCCC presents Cooper Hodgeman who was recognized at the Vermont State House on January 22 for his academic, leadership, and diverse range of extracurricular achievements. The list is long and impressive but equally important are his contributions as a mentor to elementary students, his colleagueship and respect for his classmates and teachers, and the high standard he consistently strives to reach which includes pursuing Electrical Engineering after graduation. Well deserved! 

Congratulations to Alex Perron and Michael Thomas for qualifying to participate in the 2024 Heritage Automotive Challenge in Burlington on March 13. Alex and Michael will be competing against other Automotive Program students in diagnosis and repair. Students will spend the day with automotive technicians learning, collaborating, enjoying friendly competition, picking up current technologies and hopefully earning scholarship funds. Alex and Michael are ramping up their skills under the expertise of NCCC Instructors Karen Chitambar and Gerard Chapdelaine. Good luck! 

Communication is everything! Guest Anne Marie Tremblay, American Sign Language Instructor, recently certified second year Human Services students in Basic ASL after a series of interactive lessons. Students now have a basic vocabulary of sign language which will increase their ability to be effective communicators with diverse populations. This training is just one of the many certifications that Instructor Heidi Santaw offers in the Human Services Program helping prepare students for a variety of post-secondary career pathways. 

A huge thank you to Vermont Electric Co-Op, Newport for welcoming some of our NCCC program and NCUHS STEM students for a true behind the scenes, hands-on informational session and tour. Students were amazed at how many career opportunities are available and learned a lot about the educational requirements, benefits, and demands of these diverse careers. A great educational experience! 

Owen Hoyt, a Junior at Lake Region High School, worked on this Vintage 1958 Metropolitan, releasing the brake cylinders. Students work under the expert guidance of Instructor Karen Chitambar and Lab Supervisor Gerry Chapdelaine. Restorations and vintage cars are an added bonus!

Community connections are alive and well at NCCC! Thanks to the combined generosity, patience and wisdom of Spring Brook Farm's Kitty and Spud Edwards and Sebastian LaTraverse, Animal System Science students study and work at this biological field station which is an integral part of the program as students discover the science behind agricultural systems This seamless collaboration is entering its sixth year and was carefully crafted by Emily Dehoff, Program Instructor!