A $44 million expansion of the East Valley Institute of Technology’s Power Campus, 6625 S. Power Road, Mesa, will be the highlight of the Power Campus Showcase from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday Oct. 21. The ribbon-cutting will be at 9:30 a.m. by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Guests will be able to tour the Power Campus, meet instructors and learn more about EVIT programs. Other activities include flight simulators, hair styling demonstrations, and pumpkin chucking with a catapult built by the engineering students.

EVIT provides career training for East Valley high school students and Phoenix-area adults at two central campuses in Mesa, including the Main Campus, 1601 W. Main Street. The Power Campus opened in 2011 to accommodate the needs of a growing population in the southeast Valley.

The expansion and renovation project by McCarthy Construction, One Architecture PLC and SPS+ Architects includes a new hangar for the Aviation program, expanded facilities for the Veterinary Assistant and Future Engineers programs, and much more.  The Power Campus also houses Cosmetology, Medical Assistant, Nursing Assistant, Cosmetology, Aesthetics, Criminal Justice and Welding programs.

EVIT had a record enrollment this year of over 6,000 students, including over 1,700 at the Power Campus, as more families are discovering the value of career and technical education.

“Schools like EVIT provide multiple options and pathways to rewarding careers,” said Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson. “We have high school students who will go into the workforce  after they complete their training and graduate, many who will go on to college or the military, adults who are taking our programs to upgrade their skills and those who want to start a new career. EVIT provides pathways for all of them.”

EVIT offers 50 different occupational programs. East Valley high school students attend for a half-day tuition-free. Adults pay tuition, with financial aid available for those who qualify.

Over 90% of EVIT students graduate from high school, two out of three go on to college, and 91% are in jobs related to their training, college or the military within a year of finishing their program. In addition, 94% of EVIT students say they would recommend EVIT to a friend, and 94% of parents say they would recommend EVIT to other families.

For more information, visit www.evit.com.