​Local High School students were busy throughout December preparing for their future.  Johnsonburg High School teacher Mrs. Chelgreen and St. Marys High School teachers Mrs. Brody and Mr. Taylor partnered once again with the CEC DISCOVER Partnership for their annual mock interviews.  This event is typically an in person experience; however, this year required transitioning to a virtual platform. Sophomore students prepared a resume and cover letter prior to the event. Students were connected with local employers from Alpha Precision Group, Domtar, Elk County Conservation District, Northern PA Regional College, Advantage Sales, Amphenol, Contact Technologies, Elk County Courthouse, Horizon Technologies, North Central Regional Planning Development Center, and the Community Education Center who interviewed students as if they were actually hiring them. 90% of students agreed that this experience helped reduce their stress and anxiety for an actual interview in the future and most agreed the immediate feedback received from this experience was valuable. One student reported “I was surprised to learn that even though I was very nervous through the interview, we still had a fluent conversation and I was able to answer her questions.”   85% of students agreed that they learned what knowledge and skills they need to strengthen to be successful on their next interview.  One student commented “I was surprised at how helpful the interviewer was by giving me advice about certain skills to have or work on for the job”. This experience also gave students the opportunity to find confidence in themselves as one student shared “I was honestly shocked by how easily the interview flowed and how I was a lot better at answering the questions than I thought I would be. My biggest issue seems to be self doubt.”  If you would like to be part of this experience as a guest interviewer, please contact Amy Goode at the Community Education Center at (814) 781-3437 or email cec@communityedcenter.com.
 

​For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Goode
P: 814-781-3437
amy@communityedcenter.com

​The Community Education Center’s DISCOVER Partnership collaborated with the Elk-Cameron County Penn State Extension 4H to recognize National Manufacturing Day during the month of October through their 3rd annual STEM Career Showcase.  The STEM Career Showcase was designed to introduce 5th grade students to careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and help address the critical demand for skilled manufacturing labor.  Utilizing Google Slides, the showcase focused on careers in the following manufacturing industries: Powdered Metals; Wood, Paper and Printing; Oil and Gas Production; Electrical Contacts and Components, Agriculture, and Textiles and Clothing.  5th Graders from Elk and Cameron County schools participated in the virtual event.  Teachers were provided a toolkit with a pre and post lesson that included videos and worksheets.  According to Mrs. Raubenstrauch, Ridgway FSG STEM Teacher, “The google site is amazing and because I teach students on a six day cycle this site is allowing me this year to do a whole unit on manufacturing. I believe in light of COVID the virtual session was wonderful for the students to learn from someone other than the teacher.” 
 
Each school was partnered with a local manufacturer who connected with the class during a live, virtual session via Zoom.  The company reps shared information about their company, products and career opportunities.  Each session included a hands on activity that related to the company industry.  According the Mr. Smith, Johnsonburg 5th Grade Teacher, “The kids had a blast”.  Participating elementary schools included Cameron County, Johnsonburg, Ridgway, South St. Marys elementary, St. Marys Catholic and St. Leos.  This year’s Guest Educators and Manufacturing Representatives included Natalie Aiello, Elk-Cameron PSU Extension 4H; Evan DeLong from the Elk County Conservation District, Stephanie Stoughton from Domtar, Bill Buhite from Allegheny Contracting, Ryan Magaro from Rich Valley Apiary, Rachel Gilmore from Sew Wicked, Jason Gabler from Advantage Metal Powders and a team of employees from Contact Technologies.   The classroom teacher lead a post reflection activity after the event for the students to assess if manufacturing would be a fit for their future career. 
 
This event was coordinated by the Community Education Center's (CEC) DISCOVER Partnership and Elk-Cameron PSU 4H and sponsored by the Stackpole Hall Foundation, The Mee Foundation and Workforce Solutions for North Central PA Business Education Partnership Grant from PA Department of Labor and Industry.  Companies interested in hosting students for future programs are encouraged to contact the CEC at (814) 781-3437 or cec@communityedcenter.com.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Goode
P: 814-781-3437
amy@communityedcenter.com

The Community Education Center’s DISCOVER Partnership has teamed up with Mrs. Chris Gavazzi, St. Marys High School Work Experience Coordinator and Terry Hinton, Workforce Development Specialist for the Northern PA Regional College, to organize a Guest Speaker Series throughout the school year. There will be a variety of industries highlighted for the students who participate in the Tech Programs or Work Release Program with attention being given to jobs that do not require a degree, but rather on the job training or a technical certificate. The virtual sessions provide local manufacturers the opportunity to introduce their company to the students, have key employees share personal career pathways, showcase jobs within the company, advertise part time positions that may be available for work release, and provide advice to encourage students to take an active role in planning their future. The program also provides a networking opportunity for students to make connections with potential employers, mentors and peers. Amy Goode,
CEC Program Manager, moderates each session with a few employees from the company participating in a round robin panel answering questions. Terry Hinton from the Northern PA Regional College participated in the first session sharing the manufacturing programs that are offered locally to help students understand their options as they make decisions regarding their future plans.

Manufacturing sessions are being held virtually between September and December and will focus on the Metal Working students by providing sessions with local Manufacturers who will introduce students to local companies and showcase career opportunities in this field. Amphenol Advanced Sensors started the series in September, with MPP Washington Street, Horizon Technologies, Metco and Advantage Metal Powders following during the Fall Season. Throughout thewinter months, the series will switch its focus to the Building and Construction Trades and a variety of other industriessuch as Hospitality and Tourism, Health Care, etc. Companies interested in being a guest speaker are encouraged to contact the CEC at (814) 781-3437 or cec@communityedcenter.com. This event was coordinated by the Community Education Center's (CEC) DISCOVER Partnership which is sponsored by the Stackpole Hall Foundation, The Mee Foundation and Workforce Solutions for North Central PA Business Education Partnership Grant from PA Department of
Labor and Industry.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Goode
P: 814-781-3437
amy@communityedcenter.com

The Community Education Center’s DISCOVER Partnership collaborated with the Elk-Cameron County Penn State Extension 4H to recognize National Manufacturing Day during the month of October through their 3rd annual STEM Career Showcase. The STEM Career Showcase was designed to introduce 5th grade students to careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and help address the critical demand for skilled manufacturing labor.  Utilizing Google Slides, the showcase focused on careers in the following manufacturing industries: Powdered Metals; Wood, Paper and Printing; Oil and Gas Production; Electrical Contacts and Components, Agriculture, and Textiles and Clothing. 5th Graders from Elk and Cameron County schools participated in the virtual event. Teachers were provided a toolkit with a pre and post lesson that included videos and worksheets. According to Mrs. Raubenstrauch, Ridgway FSG STEM Teacher, “The google site is amazing and because I teach students on a six day cycle this site is allowing me this year to do a whole unit on manufacturing. I believe in light of COVID the virtual session was wonderful for the students to learn from someone other than the teacher.” Each school was partnered with a local manufacturer who connected with the class during a live, virtual session via Zoom. The company reps shared information about their company, products and career opportunities. Each session included a hands on activity that related to the company industry. According the Mr. Smith, Johnsonburg 5th Grade Teacher, “The kids had a blast”. Participating elementary schools included Cameron County, Johnsonburg, Ridgway, South St. Marys elementary, St. Marys Catholic and St. Leos. This year’s Guest Educators and Manufacturing Representatives included Natalie Aiello, Elk-Cameron PSU Extension 4H; Evan DeLong from the Elk County Conservation District, Stephanie Stoughton from Domtar, Bill Buhite from Allegheny Contracting, Ryan Magaro from Rich Valley Apiary, Rachel Gilmore from Sew Wicked, Jason Gabler from Advantage Metal Powders and a team of employees from Contact Technologies. The classroom teacher lead a post reflection activity after the event for the students to assess if manufacturing would be a fit for their future career. This event was coordinated by the Community Education Center's (CEC) DISCOVER Partnership and Elk-Cameron PSU 4H and sponsored by the Stackpole Hall Foundation, The Mee Foundation and Workforce Solutions for North Central PA Business Education Partnership Grant from PA Department of Labor and Industry. Companies interested in hosting students for future programs are encouraged to contact the CEC at (814) 781-3437 or cec@communityedcenter.com. Pictured is the Johnsonburg students being led by Evan DeLong from the Elk County
Conservation District to complete a water filtering activity, while Stephanie
Stoughton from Domtar explained how the process works at their facility.
Pictured is St. Marys Catholic students being led
by Ryan Magara from Rich Valley Apiary to make
a candle out of beeswax.

​Office of Public Information
(814) 375-4776 (Voice)                    
 
 September 11, 2020                 
 
For Immediate Release
 
Blueprint reading course offered through Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education Center
DuBOIS, PA – Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education Center will offer a two-session course in November intended to train individuals in the reading and understanding of blueprints. “Basic Blueprint Reading” is designed for all personnel who need to understand the meaning of drawings/prints. Emphasis is placed on understanding multi-view relationships, symbology and conventional dimensioning and tolerancing methods. Numerous exercises involving the reading of prints will be utilized throughout the course. Participants are encouraged to bring their own prints for discussion.
Other key points that will be covered include finding your way around a drawing, drawing conventions, drawing format, title block, reading multi-view drawings, revision block, tolerances, drawing scale, three-dimensional drawings, projections, dimensions, and much more
The fee for this class is $280 per person, with discounts available for companies who enroll four or more trainees.
Classes are planned for 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, and 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. 
To register, visit: https://register.outreach.psu.edu/search/publicCourseSectionDetails.do?method=load&sectionId=23363985
For more information, contact Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education Center at duboisoutreach@psu.edu or (814) 375-4715.
 
# # #

Grab your lunch and have a seat at your desk, your couch or anywhere and join the Leadership Elk and Cameron program (LEC) for one hour each month. The virtual “Lunch with LEC” series will begin September 9th and run every second Wednesday of the month from noon to 1pm. The program is free and open to anyone. September’s session is “Managing Others: Understanding Your Leadership Style.” The October 14th session will be “Recycling: Let’s Talk Trash” and will feature a virtual tour of the Elk County Recycling Center. Future sessions will address other leadership skill building and virtual tours of some of our communities’ greatest assets.
 
Registration is required. Please go to www.communityedcenter.com or call 814-781-3437 to register.
 
Leadership Elk & Cameron is a community-based leadership program aimed at educating participants in the strengths and opportunities of the region in order to develop informed, civic-oriented individuals to help direct the future of the region. For more information, visit www.communityedcenter.com or call 814-781-3437.
 

For more information on coronavirus, how to protect yourself and help prevent its spread, visit https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
​

​Leadership Elk & Cameron Meets with Elected Officials in Virtual Format
 
The Community Education Center’s Leadership Elk & Cameron program recently held their monthly session virtually. In lieu of the class’s annual trip to the Capitol in Harrisburg, the participants met virtually with Congressman Thompson, Senator Scarnati and Representative Matt Gabler. They discussed the current issues at the Federal and State levels and how the branches of government interact. Mr. Dom Surra, Assistant Principal for St. Marys Middle School provided the class with a State Government 101 presentation; and Andy Surra of Malady-Wooten, Inc, a native of Kersey, talked with the group about the role of lobbying, advocacy and public policy in Harrisburg.
 
 
Leadership Elk & Cameron is a community-based leadership program for individuals who live and work in Elk and Cameron Counties. The CEC is now accepting applications for the next class which kicks off in September 2020. For more information, visit www.communityedcenter.com or call 814-781-3437.

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