Sentinel photo by ERIN THOMPSON
Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology Administrative Director Barry King, right, discusses ongoing initiatives during a Business and Education Committee meeting held Thursday at the Academy.
LEWISTOWN – Leaders at the Academy of Science and Technology want to increase the influence of employers throughout the building.
Jennifer Jackson, a career coach with the Academy of Science and Technology told local business and education leaders that the school would like to see more banners and displays from businesses partnering with the school in the building – an initiative that would be set up by National of the school. Technical Honor Society.
Jackson and others discussed several ongoing and future initiatives that connect students with employers during a Business and Education Committee meeting held Thursday. The Academy’s culinary students attended the event.
Jackson said the school is seeking tax-deductible donations from employers that would enable the students to participate in the National Technical Honor Society, and in return, they would receive a display at the school.
Adult Education Supervisor Michael McMonigal said the Academy is planning an open house for its machining training programs.
McMonigal said the Academy is now the only school in the four-state region that offers machining training and that the open house would introduce people to the program.
“We want to let them know what our capabilities are and how we can build these partnerships with employers and manufacturers,” he said.
The event will take place at 2 pm January 25 in the Academy.
Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rhonda Kelley invited aspiring entrepreneurs to attend an Entrepreneur’s Gathering, which is being organized by the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation.
“We invite them to come and talk to entrepreneurs who are already doing it … it could be a good exposure for students who think they might want to open a business,” she said.
The next meeting will be at 6 pm Thursday, November 17, at Shy Bear Brewing.
Kelley said the Chamber, in conjunction with Penn State Extension and CareerLink is also launching a monthly Business Breakfast Club that will offer recruiting tools and tips for today’s job market.
The event will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, November 17, at the Penn State Extension office.
In other news, MCIDC Executive Director Nick Felice said labor shortages remain a challenge to economic development.
“It’s really needed across the board,” he said.
Felice said there are guest worker programs that would use legal immigrants in the works locally.
“I think it’s very likely that you’ll see something like that grow in Mifflin County and the region in general,” he said.
