TechNews

page 2

NEIT Faculty and Staff Share Info About the Construction Field
Big Rig

NEIT's Phil Marks gets behind the wheel of a big rig

On April 2nd and 3rd, New England Tech participated in the Massachusetts Construction Career Days held at the New England Laborers Training Academy in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The Construction Career Days, sponsored by members of the Massachusetts construction industries, provided 1,200 high school students and their teachers the opportunity to participate in demonstrations of all aspects of the construction industry. Demonstrations included highway paving equipment, Computer Aided Design (CAD), carpentry, and other trades.
Mary Branco, Chris Marks, and Joe Duquette represented the High School Program for New England Tech, offering students information about construction career education opportunities. In addition, Phil Marks, Department Chair, representing the Architectural Building Engineering Technology Department, demonstrated technological advancements in building design, engineering, and construction.
Rhode Island will hold its own Construction Career Days on April 23 and 24. Mary Branco, Elaine Marcus, and Tara Totoro will represent the High School Program. In addition, New England Tech faculty members Ron Como, Phil Marks, Chris Bannister, and Felix Carlone will provide demonstrations relating to the Heating, Architectural Building Engineering, Automotive, and Building Construction/Cabinetmaking Technologies.

In Memoriam

President Richard I. Gouse and the entire New England Tech community extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the NEIT graduates who lost their lives in the West Warwick nightclub fire. They are: Louis Alves, Electro-Mechanical Drafting Technology, 3/90, and Business Management Technology, 3/95; Kevin Washburn, Video and Radio Production Technology, 9/94; and Everett Woodmansee III, Electrical Technology, 9/94.
We also wish Andrew Paskowski, a student in the Telecommunications Technology program, a speedy recovery from the injuries he sustained in the fire.

New England Tech Students Take Home Medals

New England Institute of Technology was well represented in the 2003 Skills USA-VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) Contest. Fifteen NEIT students competed in nine post-secondary VICA contests with six of our students winning gold medals, two winning silver medals and one student winning a bronze medal. Bob Carosi, RI Skills USA-VICA Director, has done a wonderful job with VICA over the years, and this year's event was the best ever. The 27th Annual Awards Recognition ceremony was held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet on March 26th and was attended by 2000 high school and college students along with invited guests. Erin Flynn, NEIT Events Coordinator, once again did a magnificent job organizing the contests held at the college.

The winners are:Automotive Service Technology Contest: First Place, Joel Bridida, Automotive Technology (AUT); Second Place, James Petrarca (AUT); and, Third Place, Michael Dietrich (AUT). Technical Computer Applications Contest: First Place, Melissa McCulloch Souza, Computer Information Systems Technology (CIS); and, Second Place, Jason King (CIS). Technical Drafting Contest: First Place, Joel Lempicki, Manufacturing Engineering Technology. Television Video Production Technology: First Place (working as a team), Christopher Osko, Video and Radio Production Technology (VRP), and Valentine Lavesa (VRP). Prepared Speech Contest: First Place, Melissa McCulloch Souza (CIS). Two additional awards were presented to NEIT students for designing two RI Skills USA VICA lapel pins. Melissa McCulloch Souza and Jason King designed the pins.

In addition to possessing excellent technical skills, several NEIT students have a leadership role on the state level: Melissa McCulloch Souza is the State Post Secondary Skills USA VICA Post Secondary President and New England Tech's Chapter President. Jason King is the Vice President of the Tech Chapter and Tim Underwood, Architectural Building Engineering Technology student, is the State Vice President.