Week of August 22, 2016

1 Communitas

It was an afternoon of celebration at the MVCC Aviation Center on Tuesday as the College recognized the latest class of students to complete the Airframe and Powerplant Technol-ogy Program.

There were 16 students graduating from the certificate pro-gram this summer after completing 1,905 hours of training over a 12-month period. MVCC’s Airframe and Powerplant Technol-ogy Program emphasizes hands-on experience with mainte-nance and repair of aircraft engines and structures.

“This group has a bright future ahead of them. They were a dedicated group who demonstrated a real interest in this field and there are so many opportunities for them,” said Walt Con-stantini, director of the Airframe and Powerplant Technology program. “Three of the guys already have jobs lined up with Premier Air and others are going to other companies around the Northeast.”

Highlighting the bright prospects for the students is that Constantini has been getting calls from employers around the country for weeks in anticipation of this new group of gradu-ates. According to Constantini, once they pass their Federal Aviation Administration’s A&P certification examination, the jobs are waiting for the graduates.

This summer’s graduation class consists of both local and regional students, which includes Albany, Rochester and Endi-cott.

This summer’s graduates are:• Ryan Belewich ...................Boonville• Andres Cano ......................New York City• Anthony Capron .................Rome• Joseph Clark ......................Rome• Charles Denton ..................Albany• Nate Fitzgerald ...................Endicott• Frank Herba .......................Albany• Andrew Huang ...................Albany• Michael Kearney ................Potsdam• Spencer Knight ..................Rome• Quinn Lowry .......................Albany• Kyle McDermott .................Albany• Evan Norman .....................East Aurora• Matthew Prentice ...............Frankfort• Dakota Rose ......................Albany• Joshua Sears .....................Carthage

16 graduate from A&P program

Submit your information for Communitas to rhaubert@mvcc.edu

In addition to offering the 1,905-hour program at MVCC’s Avi-ation Training Center, the College’s Center for Community and Economic Development has developed a “Test Prep” program to prepare qualified candidates to successfully complete the FAA certification examinations. This was created in conjunction with the College’s Airframe and Powerplant Technology Pro-gram and is designed for anyone in need of honing their knowl-edge for the FAA qualification. This is an 80-hour program.

“This Airframe and Powerplant Test Prep Course has been instrumental in helping our region’s workforce as well as our country’s military personnel to prepare for a career in this nationally in-demand industry,” said Kristen Skobla, director of Community and Workforce Development, noting that it is a VA-approved course.

The College has been recruiting military personnel who have been working on military aircraft and are planning on leaving the service in the next year.

The Airframe and Powerplant test preparation program fo-cuses on the specific needs of each individual student. Each student will be evaluated on their strengths and weaknesses, as it pertains to that student’s certification focus. The program pre-pares students for the written, practical and oral segments of the exams. Students must pass each area for the FAA certification sought. This program requires additional hours of self study.

READY FOR CAREER - Matthew Prentice of Frankfort is congratulated by Peter Abbe, Todd Rankins, and Tom Jennings with Walt Constantini looking on in the background.

Communitas2

Jester

COOKING FOR THE AGES – Andrew Glidden, Associate Professor in the Hos-pitality Program, hosted a cooking exhibition earlier in the summer for students entitled, “Cooking on a Budget.” Helping him with this exhibit in the lobby of the Information Technology Building was hospitality student Emily Malowicki. They demonstrated how to make cheese omelets, baked potato soup and chicken fajitas. Tastings were provided to onlookers.

As the fall semester begins this week, it is a wonderful time to look back at recog-nized accomplishments and those who were honored over the summer. Heading into the month of June, two MVCC stu-dents were among the 77 Phi Theta Kappa students statewide who were presented the 2016 All-New York Academic Award at the New York State Museum in Albany.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, “Each year, Phi Theta Kappa selects community college students from through-out New York State and the nation who have improved their local community in some way. In doing so, PTK also recog-nizes the immense value of a community college education and the profound impact that our students have on their campuses, in their communities, and on the economy. Congratulations to all of the students hon-ored today in recognition of their outstand-ing leadership and achievement.”

MVCC’s honored students were Mi-chelle Jester and Emilie Kane.

Additionally, Kane was a recipient of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team. This award recognizes the New Century Scholars, which are the high-est scoring students from each of the 50 states, Canada, and each of the six sov-ereign nations where PTK chapters exist. These students make up the All-USA Community College Academic Team.

Jester is a returning adult learner who is a native of Oriskany and a graduate

from the Oriskany schools. After working 19 years for MetLife Insurance and 15 years at Orion Bus Industries, she decid-ed to return to school as an adult learner

in January 2015.At MVCC she pursed

an associate degree in Human Services. She is continuing her educa-tion for a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Be-havior through Bellevue University. Jester looks forward to working in the field of Human

Services and providing help and hope for other people.

Kane is a native of Frankfort and raised in a bicultural household - her mother is from Japan and was an international student at MVCC. Kane’s love for Ja-pan and its culture grows with every visit her family makes overseas with a goal of working in Finance or possibly teaching English in Japan.

During her time at MVCC, Kane was president of the International Club and a mentor in the International Student Men-tor Program. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Beta Lambda Business Honorary, and worked as a stu-dent assistant in the Admission’s Office.

This fall she is attending the University at Albany for accounting and is a member of NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals).

PTK is the largest honor society in higher education, serving nearly 1,300 colleges in all 50 states and nine sov-ereign nations. Members of the All-New York Academic Team are recognized for the academic achievements, leadership accomplishments, and engagement in community service.

Two students receive state honors

DAUGHTER AND MOTHER - Emilie Kane’s mother Aiko Kane was present when she received her Phi Theta Kappa 2016 All-New York Academic Award and her Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team.

HEADING OFF TO NEW HORIZONS – MVCC held its graduation ceremony on Tuesday for 16 students who have completed 1,905 hours of training in a 12-month period in the College’s Airframe and Powerplant Technology Program. From left are: Charlie Denton, Spencer Knight, Andrew Huang, Frank Herba, Ryan Belewich, Matthew Prentice, Dakota Rose, Evan Norman, Michael Kear-ney, Kyle McDermott, Joshua Sears, Andres Cano, Quinn Lowry, Joseph Clark, and Nate Fitzgerald.

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