HAVERHILL – Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to share that students in Whittier Tech’s Career Technical Initiative (CTI) Carpentry Program recently completed a project for Veasey Park in Groveland.
The project was initiated by Whittier Tech’s Vocational Coordinator Paul Moskevitz, who coordinated with former Whittier Automotive Instructor Ed Reed and the local group that oversees Veasey Park in Groveland.
The 10 students in the CTI Carpentry Program used the skills they learned throughout the summer to mimic the framing of a house and build a new shed for the park, which will be used for storing various tools and supplies to maintain the park.
“It makes me feel great to know that I am capable of creating something that makes a difference,” said Jaden Capeles, of Haverhill, one of the students in the program. “I have a job opportunity in the carpentry field as a result of being in the Summer CTI Program! I feel like I have learned a lot over and am proud to have contributed to a community project like this in a meaningful way.”
Carpentry students collaborated with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) students to create a design for the new shed. All of the supplies needed for the build were purchased through a CTI grant, courtesy of the state, used to fund the program.
Students in the CTI Carpentry Program included Capeles, Daniel Giannatsis, Jorvanny Ortiz, Israel Tricoche Jr., Jazaih Perez, and Dillon Wolf, all of Haverhill, Junior Guzman and Markino Mathurin, both of Lawrence, Olga Reynolds, of Methuen, and Liam Fogle, of Georgetown. Whittier Tech staff involved in the project included Vocational Coordinator Moskevitz, Carpentry Instructor Mark Whittier, and Computer-Aided Development/Drafting Instructor Scott Robertson.
“We are very proud to see our students complete projects for the community using the skills they cultivate during Whittier’s Summer CTI program,” said Superintendent Lynch. “The Initiative is not only a door-opener to all of the students that participate, but it also builds their confidence in their industry skills as they move into the professional realm.”
Whittier Tech’s Summer Career Technical Initiative (CTI) provides access to training programs so participants can find meaningful employment directly after program completion.
From left, Whittier Tech’s Career Technical Initiative (CTI) Carpentry Program members Daniel Giannatsis, Liam Fogle, Junior Guzman, Instructor Mark Whittier, Olga Reynolds, Dillon Wolf, Jazaih Perez, Jorvanny Ortiz, Jaden Capeles, Israel Tricoche Jr., and Markino Mathurin pose with the new shed they built for Veasey Park in Groveland. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Students work on the shed’s frame in Whittier’s carpentry shop. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Carpentry student Jazaih Perez works on the shed. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Daniel Giannatsis, front, and Jaden Capeles, back, work on the shed. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech) 
Whittier Tech CTI students measure out the size of the shed at Veasey Park. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)