CTE Month
The East Valley Institute of Technology is proud to be the official sponsor of CTE Month in February on AZTV Channel 7. To increase awareness of career and technical education in Arizona, AZTV will include the campaign in its newsletter to 21,000 subscribers twice a month. The campaign includes commercials, AZ Daily Mix interview segments, display ads on AZTV.com and social media. Happy CTE Month, Arizona!
House Bill 2034
Thank you to Arizona Capitol Times for publishing a column by EVIT Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson regarding HB2034, which would allow the state’s Career Technical Education Districts to offer associate degrees. Last year, Arizona – which has low college-going and college-completion rates – passed legislation to allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. EVIT supports that decision because post-secondary students need school choice options too, just as younger students do – especially since 65% of all jobs now require post-secondary education beyond high school, but just 46% of Arizonans 25-64 have an associate degree or better or professional certification. The next logical step to increasing post-secondary school choice: Allow CTEDs to offer associate degrees. Read Dr. Wilson’s column: https://bit.ly/3rdy67B
National School Choice Week
Last week was an exciting one at EVIT as we celebrated National School Choice Week. EVIT was the featured school in the national kickoff video, which was also narrated by EVIT Commercial Baking & Pastry Arts student Vanessa Ruiz. The video has been viewed on YouTube over 44,000 times! Last Thursday, Vanessa and several other EVIT students and administrators represented EVIT in the House Gallery as Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, recognized EVIT for being the featured National School Choice Week school. Then on Saturday, we welcomed thousands of visitors to the EVIT Main Campus for our annual EVIT Expo, where guests could explore our CTE programs and celebrate school choice. Watch the national school choice video: https://bit.ly/34qoYU0
Foster care skateboard event
Also in January, EVIT hosted a skateboarding event for youth in foster care, who received new helmets, pads and skateboards while learning about resiliency, goal-setting and positive momentum. About 30 youth attended and were matched up with 15 semi-pro skateboarders. Afterwards they discussed and celebrated their bravery for trying something new. The event was facilitated by Swappow Plus Foundation and co-sponsored by Molina HealthCare and Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents. EVIT offers a program for foster youth that allows them to earn their GED while taking an EVIT career program.
Inspiring alumni
We are continuing to feature successful EVIT alumni on azcentral.com and in the Arizona Republic in honor of EVIT’s 30th anniversary. Fashion Design alum Brisa French is a designer for Carrie Amber Intimates and private labels: https://bit.ly/3s8VLFx. Medical Assistant alum Rochelle Demarest attended EVIT as an adult student to learn a trade she could use to support herself while attending college: https://bit.ly/3IWtVDh.
Thank you for your support in helping EVIT change lives.