Whitter Tech Design and Visual Communications students created printed materials, including fliers and table cards, for the event. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Whitter Tech Hospitality and Culinary students prepared and served dinner to the guests at the Spring Advisory event. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
More than 250 people attended Whittier Tech’s Spring Advisory event. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)
HAVERHILL – Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to announce that Whittier Tech held a successful Spring Vocational Advisory event last week.
On Thursday, April 7, more than 250 people gathered at Whittier Tech for the Spring Advisory Event for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Vocational Advisory is a required event for vocational schools in Massachusetts, where industry experts, parents, instructors and students come together to provide updates to programming and industry demands.
Advisory meetings help inform decisions about the district’s budget and programming, and facilitate cooperative employment opportunities and networking for students.
Hospitality and Culinary students used their technical skills and knowledge of catering large-scale events to design, prepare and serve dinner to the guests.
Design and Visual Communications students used their creative skills to design printed materials, including programs, fliers and table cards, for the event.
“This event is a celebration of vocational education. Thank you to all the stakeholders present for showing support for our student body. I also am grateful to our students, who used their many talents to create and coordinate a successful event,” Superintendent Lynch said.
Students in attendance represented each of Whittier’s 22 vocational areas. Two students spoke at the dinner and shared their unique experiences at Whittier.
Ryan Link, a senior from Haverhill studying Advanced Manufacturing, spoke about the opportunities that attending Whittier Tech has given him. Link reflected on his cooperative employment at Ramco Machine in Rowley, his role as Whittier Tech School Committee student representative, his early college credits in both his vocational and academic areas and his extracurricular activities like Chess Club and a trip to SkillsUSA National Conference.
“I chose to come to Whittier because I wanted something different,” Link said. “Whittier is such an amazing school with many great opportunities and I do not regret coming here for one second.”
Jaidyn Craig, a junior from Haverhill studying Medical Assisting, spoke on behalf of the student body as the current SkillsUSA Chapter President. He shared information about the district competitions, students who have earned medals and are competing at the State Competition and those earning awards at the State Ceremony in May.
Craig is running for a seat on the SkillsUSA State Executive Council and used this as an opportunity to practice his campaign speech.
“Without your support, we would not be able to do all the things that make Whittier students shine at SkillsUSA. Wish us luck as we prepare for States and fingers crossed for Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia in June,” Craig said in the closing of his speech.
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