Greater Lowell Tech Students Demonstrate Career Skills at Annual Open House

LOWELL — Interim Superintendent-Director Jill Davis is pleased to share that Greater Lowell Technical High School (GLTHS) students showcased their skills in their chosen technical programs on Wednesday at the annual open house.

In conjunction with the annual open house for Greater Lowell Regional Vocational School District (Lowell, Dracut, Tyngsboro, Dunstable) 8th grade students interested in attending GLTHS in the fall, the school also held a SkillsUSA Community Outreach Challenge. During the challenge, 15 teams of between two and six student volunteers from separate shops competed to showcase their knowledge in their given program to prospective students.

 “Last night’s Open House was a special event,  it was so wonderful to see the number of our students that volunteered to be part of the evening to talk to prospective students about their technical programs and in some areas even lead them through hands-on activities,” Superintendent Davis said. “Their confidence and pride really shined through. The night was truly a team effort, administrators, teachers and students working together to show our visitors what a technical education at Greater Lowell Tech is really all about.”

Approximately 1,000 prospective students and families from Lowell, Dracut, Tyngsborough and Dunstable attended the event.

During the challenge, GLTHS students exhibited leadership and communication skills as they demonstrated to visiting 8th grade students safety and proper tool usage/techniques, provided an interactive and hands on display of their technical program/shop and answered the questions of prospective students and their families through a fun, engaging presentation. 

Prizes for the top three teams in the competition were funded by a SkillsUSA grant awarded after Greater Lowell Technical High School was named a SkillsUSA 2019 National Model of Excellence.

Each shop participating in the challenge was judged by a team of GLTHS alumni, and the team of students representing the school’s painting and design technical program came in first place for their presentation on wood staining, winning a $250 prize. Members of the team included senior Meghan Brady of Tyngsborough, sophomore Faith Mainville of Lowell, and juniors Julia Alves of Dracut, Olivia Laroche of Lowell, and Jordan Wallace of Lowell.

The Marketing program’s team came in second place for their presentation on the “Seven Steps of the Selling Process,” winning a $100 prize, and the Programming and Web Development program’s team came in third place, winning $75, for their presentation on cryptography. Students on the Marketing program’s team included juniors Jeffrey Diaz of Lowell, Michael Donovan of Lowell, Samantha Marion of Dracut, and Riley Newton of Tyngsborough, and sophomores James Abreu of Tyngsborough and Malena Long of Lowell. 

Members of the Programming and Web Development team included Seniors Courtney Wilder of Dracut and Anthony LeBlanc of Dracut. 

Other shop presentations covered topics including CPR, Photography, Laser Engraving, 3-D prints/laser engraved foam, wire stripping, brick laying, spray gun operation, MIG welding and hair braiding. 

Prospective students at the event also had the opportunity to speak with an admissions adviser and apply on site, meet academic and technical faculty members, visit the school’s various technical programs and learn about topics including new AP classes, dual enrollment, co-op opportunities, athletics, clubs and student activities. 

Light refreshments, including cookies and coffee, were also served in the school’s cafeteria throughout the open house. 

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