Deputy Secretary Eileen Cipriani, center, chats with Pennsylvania State Rep. Gary Day, R-Lehigh/Berks and school Director of Postsecondary & Workforce Education Jan Brna in LCTI’s Precision Machine Tool Technology program lab.

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. |Eileen Cipriani, Pennsylvania deputy secretary for workforce development, visited Lehigh Career & Technical Institute on Friday (Dec. 7, 2018).

She met students and teachers while learning about the school’s programs during an afternoon campus tour led by LCTI Executive Director Thomas J. Rushton. State Rep. Gary Day, R-Lehigh/Berks joined Cipriani and other school administrators for the tour.

“Pennsylvania businesses want skilled workers that schools like LCTI provide,” the deputy secretary said. “Career and technical centers combine a classroom education with hands-on training on industry-standard equipment that employers must have to grow and thrive.”

The visit highlighted Gov. Tom Wolf’s PAsmart initiative, which includes $30 million in competitive grants for strengthening K-12 STEM education, expanding registered apprenticeships and job training through public-private partnerships. It also underscored his commitment to career and technical education; Wolf’s 2018-19 budget includes an additional $10 million for career and technical centers — the first such funding increase in a decade.

Rushton thanked Cipriani for taking the initiative to visit LCTI and learn firsthand how the school prepares students for success in college and their careers who will be passionate about their jobs.

“Our mission is workforce development and the quality of our programs is directly related to our close relationship with our business and industry partners. The value and future of carer and technical education has never been more important to our  region, state and country,” he said.

Cipriani’s tour included stops at several of LCTI’s program labs, including:

• Advertising Design/Commercial Art, where students were enjoying a presentation from graphic designer Joe Mondin, of Smooth-On, a Lehigh Valley-based employer.
• Computer Information Technology, one of four computer science programs in the school’s recently launched IT Academy.
• Electromechanical/Mechatronics Technology, where students were working with programmable logic controllers and troubleshooting motor control systems.
• Exercise Science & Rehabilitation Services, where students were practicing taking vital signs, learning about infection control and studying human musculature.
• Heavy Equipment Operations & Preventive Maintenance, where she saw an articulated hauler that Volvo donated to the school last month.
• Mechatronics, a new program designed for first-year students interested in Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing careers.
• Precision Machine Tool Technology, where students were using manual mills and lathes, as well as CNC mills and lathes.
• Supply Chain Management & Logistics Technology, where students used handheld scanners to inventory stock, pick customer orders and conduct quality control checks.

View the news release.

Media Contact: Precious Petty, Public Relations Coordinator, 610-799-1450, pettyp@lcti.org