Student debt and the problems of student loan repayment are very much in the news these days. The whole issue of financial assistance for postsecondary education has become an urgent priority for high school seniors who are going on to school. While scholarships and grants can help reduce the cost of postsecondary education, most postsecondary students rely heavily upon loans that, in the vast majority of cases, must be repaid in full.

 

To take advantage of most forms of financial aid, students and their families must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1, 2012, and before the postsecondary school's submission deadline. This form is available free at www.fasfa.ed.gov.

 

Mandy Schaufler is the Financial Aid Officer at the GACTC. Mandy notes that about two-thirds of the full-time postsecondary students at the school receive Pell Grants. More than ninety percent of full-time adult students receive grants or loans to attend the school. For the "Career in a Year" programs at the GACTC, tuition is among the lowest in the area. By taking full advantage of financial aid opportunities, these Career in a Year programs are within reach of most adult students and their families. Our saying is, "Excellence you can afford."

 

The GACTC counselors are sponsoring a financial aid night on December 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the Cafetorium. The information presented at this meeting for students and parents will focus on the correct way to complete the FAFSA and grant and loan opportunities available through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Senior students at the school and their parents will be informed by letter of this opportunity.

On October 12, Piotr Marciniak, Grade 12 Hollidaysburg Area High School student in the mid-day culinary class, tragically lost his life in an automobile accident in Huntingdon County. All who knew Piotr agree that he had a bright future and was a wonderful young man. Piotr, who came to America from Poland before his third birthday, was a strong student who demonstrated unusual career maturity. He had been accepted to the culinary program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Food Service Instructors, Jim Bumgarner and Heather McCloskey, along with Guidance Counselor Gayle Swales are coordinating efforts to establish a memorial scholarship and to raise funds to assist the family with final expenses. 

Contact Gayle Swales with any additional Information.
814-505-1289 or gayle.swales@gactc.edu

The spaghetti and meatball benefit dinner, given by the staff and students of the GACTC culinary program, will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) cafeteria from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In addition to spaghetti and meatballs, the dinner includes salad, garlic bread, dessert and beverage for only $7.00 per person. Take outs are available.

 

Tickets may be purchased prior to the dinner at the GACTC Restaurant or at the door. For ticket information, please call 505-1325 and ask for Mrs. McCloskey or Mrs. Eaken.

 

All proceeds benefit the Piotr Marciniak Memorial Scholarship

 

Financial donations for the Piotr Marciniak Memorial Scholarship may be made to the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation (CPCF). 

The Materials Handling Industry of America (MHIA) donated a secure storage and retrieval unit to teach Logistics students automated inventory control skills. This secure vertical system complements a similar horizontal storage system, valued at $102,000, donated through MHIA two years ago. Thomas Moore, Regional Service Manager with Hanel Systems, is shown with Logistics & Materials Management Instructor Kathy DePiro and Lanny Ross, Executive Director.

The Practical Nursing Department partnered with Nason Hospital Occupational Health to hold a seasonal influenza vaccine clinic on October 5. Faculty, staff, and adult students took advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves from the virus that could be responsible for the flu outbreak this season. The cost of this preventative measure was $23, a price worth paying to stay well.

Left to Right

1st row- Xena Price, Dental Assisting; Chelsea Ott, Health Occupations; Miranda Klock, Multimedia & Web Design. 2nd row- Hunter Myers, Masonry;  Austin Miller, Health Occupations; Tanner Lashinsky, Computer Technologies/Cisco Academy

Continuing Education at the GACTC plans to begin a Phlebotomy class starting in early November. The Coordinator of Continuing Education interviewed all students. Currently eight students are enrolled in the class. Upon completion of the 120-hour didactic portion of the course, students will be placed for the 80-hour clinical component. The GACTC currently has clinical agreements with Altoona Regional Health System and Nason Hospital. The Coordinator of Continuing Education is looking at adding Tyrone Hospital as a clinical site for Phlebotomy students-meetings with hospital administration are forthcoming. 

Mr. George Woomer continues to administer certain AWS tests to local individuals. Mr. Woomer has worked with an array of local companies, including Norfolk Southern Railroad and McLanahan Corporation.

L-R: Della Gens, RN, GACTC Instructor; Rachel Downs, Amanda Selden, Emily Brumbaugh, Rachele Naugle, GACTC Senior Health Occupation Students.

 

When Della Gens first decided she wanted to be a nurse, she had no idea that she would travel a nontraditional route to get there.

 

Most individuals pursuing a career in nursing choose to enter a two-year associate degree program or a four-year baccalaureate option, both of which come with a hefty price tag. Della chose a less-known career pathway that proved to be more efficient and less costly.

 

In 1976, Della entered the Practical Nursing Program at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center. Upon completion of this one-year program, she worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the Pediatric Department at the Altoona Hospital. During her employment, she also attended Mount Aloysius College to attain an Associate Degree in Nursing. Then as a staff nurse at the Home Nursing Agency, she went on to achieve a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Della received tuition assistance from her employers and the help and support of her husband, Gary, and daughter, Lisa.

 

Currently, Mrs. Gens is the Instructor of the Health Occupations Program for high school students. Along with the Practical Nursing Coordinator, Rebecca Kelly, Della serves on a Department of Education Committee that is committed to develop programs of study to provide a seamless transition for qualified high school students to enter a practical nursing program with advanced standing. The GACTC has a Statewide Articulation Agreement that awards clock hour credit to a matriculated student in the nurse aide program of study that Della teaches.

 

The Health Occupations students can articulate their high school classes into the GACTC postsecondary Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, and Medical Office Specialist programs, as well, at a five percent tuition reduction for one-year nationally certified and licensed programs. Upon graduation, students have the option of immediately entering the workforce or continuing their education. Credits from the GACTC postsecondary programs can be transferred to Mount Aloysius College, Saint Francis University, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, or South Hills School of Business and Technology for another year of education, fulfilling associate degree requirements.

 

Through this nontraditional educational road, the students can achieve the goal of a higher education, while working at a job related to their course of study and continuing their education incrementally. Often, healthcare employers will provide financial assistance or even cover the cost of the student's higher education.

 

There is more than one road to achieving education and employment goals. Sometimes the road less traveled can be the most advantageous.

There are always practical applications of student learning within the school.  In response to complaints of slow computers, Computer Technology/Cisco Academy Instructor Tim Keener and his students recently tested each currently used network port on the third floor by testing each wire structure itself.  They used a laptop to test the network transmission rate on each port and found no problems with network wiring.

 

The New Choices Career Development program resumed services on August 30, 2011. After receiving notification of program approval from the Department of Labor & Industry, Program Director Tammie Fleck initiated services for the 2011-2012 grant year.  The grant will conclude on June, 30, 2012.

 

The first New Choices session was conducted from September 26 - October 21.   Smaller class numbers will be recruited due to limited availability of student funding. However, at least 4 additional sessions will likely be conducted. The next session is scheduled to operate from November to December with exact start date, days, and times not yet determined.

 

A Facebook page has been created to enhance recruitment efforts. New Choices is located on Facebook under: Altoona New Choices. This allows a venue for potentials students to view class starts, program content, and other pertinent information.

 

Carpentry, Visual Arts Technologies, and Electronics students are working on an updated display for Lights on the Lake.  The previously display with synchronized lighting and sound did not hold up well to the weather and out-of-season storage.

Remember to change your clocks November 6 when daylight savings time ends this year.  And don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.

Consulting Engineers & Surveyors

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1. Short
2. He wrote YOUR ACTUAL NAME on the paper
3. A Towel
4. A fire
5. A coffin 

Riddles

 

Email all answers to enews@gactc.com 

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