Students enrolled at CAM P-TECH in Springville began defining the path to their future the day they entered the program. During a recent signing ceremony, several narrowed that path even further as they near the end of their high school journey.
By signing, Interim Principal Paul Carmichael told students they were formally enrolling at Alfred State SUNY College of Technology. They pledged commitment to a degree in Computer Information Systems or Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician.
“You should be proud of where you are in your education,” Carmichael said. “From here on out, you are not only high school students but college students as well. What an accomplishment this will be.”
The pathway signing ceremony occurred during Summer Bridge, a weeklong program to acclimate new and returning students to CAM P-TECH in Springville. Representing Alfred State at the gathering were Mike Padlo, admissions counselor, and Nancy Driscoll, academic support assistant.
Students and their pathways include: Teerada Dickson, Computer Information Systems, Springville; Daphne “Kaitty” Merwin, Computer Information Systems, Springville; Devin Nies, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician, Springville; Dominic Penfold, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician; Coda Sager, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician, North Collins; Logan Snyder, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician, Springville; Jacqueline Thompson, Computer Information Systems, Springville; Zigmunt Tomasik, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician, Springville; and Zachary Wright, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician, Gowanda.
Kaitty Merwin participated in Summer Bridge for the past two years. She said it allowed her to get re-acquainted with her peers and teachers before the school year begins
“Everyone here is very kind,” Merwin said. “They really are here to help you, and I appreciate all my teachers very much.”
Merwin said she plans to complete the Computer Information Systems pathway with an eye toward a career in information technology. She hopes to find the ideal “work-life balance” in her future career.
“I don’t want to be drowning under piles and piles of stress,” she said. “I want to do something that I enjoy for work but still be able to come home and relax.”
In Daniel Palumbo’s classroom, Summer Bridge participants made wood-engraved photograph frames after first practicing on pieces of cardboard.
He said the weeklong program assists new students in learning the P-TECH culture.
“The goal is to get students in early so they know what to expect and to have them prepared for when September comes,” Palumbo said. “It helps them get acclimated to the environment.”
CAM P-TECH is an all-day program housed in a state-of-the-art facility at 307 Newman St., Springville. Students enroll in P-TECH as ninth graders and follow one of two fields of study in Computer Information Systems or Electrical Construction & Maintenance Electrician from Alfred State SUNY College of Technology with no out-of-pocket expense.
