Tech Expo on MCVTS campuses showcases students’ skills

Tech Expo on MCVTS campuses showcases students’ skills

More than 250 students on the five campuses of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools participated in the annual Tech Expo, competing to come up with the most innovative projects to demonstrate their career skills.

Projects ranged from protecting bees against parasites to using computers to control welding operations to analyzing auto-accident data to root out trouble spots. The expo was held during the final week of February, which is Career and Technical Education Month.

Teams of students were challenged to present projects that were collaborative, innovative, and sustainable. A point of emphasis was collaboration outside the school district, such as with a business, a professional advisor, a community group or a nonprofit organization.

“I am really pleased with how well this year's Tech Expo went,” said Sean McDonald, MCVTS director of career and technical education. “The students rose to the challenge again and increased their collaboration efforts across our schools and into the community.

“There were many examples of quality partnerships, innovation and altruism by our students, he added. “Each year, the Tech Expo has been a great opportunity to highlight some of the best of what our students can offer the community, as well as provide an opportunity to publicly display their learning and professionalism.”

The presentations were judged by 22 volunteers from academia, the business community and government agencies, as well as MCVTS administrators. Superintendent of Schools Dianne Veilleux and Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Bicsko attended many of the presentations. McDonald and Adam Recktenwald, supervisor of career and technical education, coordinated the event.

The winners on the East Brunswick Campus were: first place, a collaboration between Arts Tech, Digital Film, Cosmetology, Building Services and Carpentry, with “Flower Power,” a Girl Scouts design and fashion show; second place, Architecture Technology and Machine Tool Technology, emergency multi-purpose tool, and third place, Dance and Multimedia Art and Technology, flamenco dance.

For the East Brunswick School of Career Development: first place, Dry Cleaning and Business Technology, coat drive for the needy; second place, Culinary Arts and Baking, collaboration to donate surplus food to a local shelter; third place, Health Services, healthy food options for school.

Perth Amboy Campus: first place, Computer Aided Drafting and Graphic Design, monument to the historic terra cotta industry in Perth Amboy; second place, Computer-Assisted Drafting, Graphic Design, Computer Systems Technology, and Carpentry, multi-game arcade cabinet; third place, Electrical Technology, Ideal Tools contest.

Piscataway Campus: first place, Health Technology, “Staying Alive,” teaching hands-only CPR; second place, Graphic Design, marketing program for a local business; third place, Carpentry, K-9 training boxes for law enforcement.

Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technologies, Edison: first place, Sustainability Robot Project with Middlesex County Improvement Authority; second place, Piezo-electric Stress Ball to recharge phones; third place, car crash prediction data library.

Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences, Woodbridge: first place,             Improving the Bee Shaker; second place, Providing Education and Sanitary Products to Women in Need; third place, Neo Needle Micro-Vaccine Device.

Winners on the East Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Piscataway campuses are recognized on the traveling Innovation Cups. Winners at the two academies receive certificates.

3/5/20