Eastern Opens Its Doors

Potential students, their families and alumnus experienced a day in the life of tech students and the 14 career programs the school offers during a recent open house. 

Eastern is one of five technology arts schools in Montgomery County. Its student body consists of high school students from nine school districts in the eastern section of the county, including , Upper Dublin, Abington and Upper Moreland.

 “Everybody knows what a high school is, not everybody knows what a career center is,” said Kurt Adam, Eastern’s assistant director. “We provide the students the world outside of our school.”

The school’s 14 career programs cover a wide variety of interests, including construction, landscape contracting and electrical technologies. Art programs include commercial, cosmetology and culinary arts.

Whether or not a student decides to immediately pursue a career or seek further education, Adam said Eastern students gain a competitive edge, because of hands-on opportunities gained at the school.

“The opportunity is special,” Tom Campbell, a Hatboro-Horsham High School senior, said.

Campbell, who studies automotive technology at Eastern, said he came to the school for hands-on learning, and to be with people who share similar interests.

“I’m with people who enjoy working with cars, and I connect better with them,” Campbell said.

Campbell was one of many students, instructors and school administrators to greet and guide visitors during the open house. His particular role, as the SkillsUSA  p.m. vice-president, represented the school’s student body.

Eastern students have the option of attending a.m. or p.m. arts or technology classes, while attending their academic classes at their sending high school. Programs are typically attended by juniors and seniors.

He said his daily transition from academic classes at Hatboro-Horsham  in the morning to his afternoon automotive technology courses at Eastern, doesn’t really feel like a transition at all.

“It’s like a normal day at school,” Campbell said. “Actually, it’s even better, because I get to leave for lunch.”

The open house was catered by Eastern culinary students.

Culinary Arts

According to adjunct Culinary Arts instructor, Kelly Ann Knorr, the students started off their day at 7 a.m. to prepare a V.I.P. brunch at the school, and then prepared hors’ d oeuvres  and small meals for open house visitors.

According to Knorr, the Culinary Arts program at Eastern is one of the most attended programs at the school.

Knorr, a 2003 program graduate, attended Johnson and Wales University, in Providence, R.I. From there, Knorr went on to work at Disney World, in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and at the Polynesian Resort.

She credits her time at Eastern as the gateway for the higher learning and job opportunities she has experienced.

“I knew I had a one-up against everybody when I went to college, and I knew what I wanted to do already,” Knorr said.

She works at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, where she saw the opportunity to volunteer at her alma mater as part of the school’s Occupational Advisory Committee.

The Occupational Advisory Committee

The Occupational Advisory Committee is made up of local business representatives who lend their guidance and expertise to students in their particular programs.

According to Tim Weaver, Eastern’s school improvement coordinator, the members of the committee help students become attractive prospects to post secondary schools or employers by keeping the skills taught in the classroom relevant to the skills needed outside the classroom.

Weaver said some committee advisors have been with the school for over 20 years. He said the school guarantees the skills learned at Eastern will remain relevant for up to one year after certification in the field. If the student is found wanting, the school will take the student back for further training.

“If we give students a certification of completion, we hold ourselves to it,” Weaver said.

Co-Op

Eastern students also get the opportunity to directly work in the field of their study.

According to Gary Devine, the welding program instructor, students in their second year of the program are matched with local businesses for a co-op.

“We phase them into industry,” Devine said. “And, when they graduate in June, they’ll have a full-time job waiting for them.”

Devine said 90 percent of his certified welding students achieve employment at the same job of their co-op.

During the first year of the welding program, students are introduced to theory.

“We learn the theory behind it, how to read blue prints, and, instead of just learning how to weld, we are welding,” said Andrew Benischeck, Eastern welding program student and Upper Dublin High School senior.  

“I heard about Eastern, and found out they had a tech shop,” Benischeck said. “I visited one day, and said, ‘This looks like fun.’”