Tech Fest is going on at EVIT right now!

Tech Fest has begun! The campus is already buzzing with lots of visitors. Stop by today before 1 p.m. to get in on the fun.

You could dunk a teacher:


Get a massage:


Or check our any of EVIT's nearly 40 amazing programs, like construction and radio broadcasting:

EVIT student helps flood victims

EVIT fire fighting student Shane Walters is already showing his inner-hero.

Shane spent much of last Thursday and Friday cleaning up storm damage at his grandmother's trailer park community in Tonto Basin and helping residents move their belongings to higher grounds. One entire row of homes had been completely knocked out, Shane said. In the storm's wake was excessive water damage to many of the homes, sheds and vehicles in the neighborhood, as well as contaminated well water.

Shane's grandmother's home went mostly undamaged, he said, but he and his family came out to help others, many of whom are elderly, who weren't as fortunate.

"It's a lot of work, especially for older people," Shane said. "So they asked me to help, and I did. I really like helping there."

And he said he'll be back out there this weekend, helping out some more, despite an injured shoulder.

"They're all one big team, a unit," Shane said. "I was just helping save what they can, and that means a lot to me."

Plan your career at Tech Fest

If you're about to graduate (or have already graduated), and you're still not quite sure what you want to "do" for the rest of your life -- we may have a solution for you.

At EVIT's big Tech Fest event this Saturday, motivational speaker Dr. Charly Simmons will hold a seminar to teach adults the importance of understanding themselves and their skills before choosing a career.

And the best part is that the first 100 people to register for the seminar will also receive a FREE Kuder career assessment. This assessment helps individuals identify their interests, explore their options, and plan for career success.

Dr. Simmons will speak at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 in the Health Sciences Center auditorium on EVIT's campus, on Main Street just east of Dobson. To register, call Doris Moore at (480) 461-4034. Walk-ins also are welcome!

EVIT staff run in P.F. Chang's Marathon

Several EVIT staffers ran in the recent P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon earlier this month.

Congrats to all who ran! Top row: Ruben Ruiz, Sharon Black, Maria Pippins. Bottom row: Katie Askins, Lynn Strang, Brian Viola. Also, Lisa French (not pictured).

Well done!

EVIT multimedia student wins logo design contest

Multimedia student Brianna Graf was honored this week as the grand prize winner in a logo design contest held by Community Bridges.

Community Bridges is a Mesa-based non-profit organization that provides clinical treatment for substance abuse, and family preservation, prevention and education services.

The organization's "Get Real Now" program, which will promote the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, needed a cool new logo. So the Community Bridges folks asked East Valley students ages 12-18 to design logos that they could choose from.

Brianna's logo (shown above) was chosen as the winner by a panel of judges, including youth, prevention professionals, and a graphic designer. She won a 26-inch LCD flatscreen TV as her grand prize, and she will be honored on Feb. 24 by the Mesa Prevention Alliance.

EVIT video students take home film festival honors

EVIT video productions students took home several awards last weekend from the Arizona Student Film Festival.

The contest was open to all Arizona public, charter and private school students in grades three through college.

Two EVIT students won awards in a category that was new this year: public service announcements. Students were challenged to submit an original, 30-second PSA about the importance of protecting drinking water resources. EVIT student Caleb Greenwood won second place for "Superhero PSA," and Caleb and Jordan Gorla won third place for "Drastic PSA."

In the microshort category, EVIT student Ashley Arredondo won first place for "Wrong Path," and Caleb Greenwood and Jordan Gorla won third place for "Film School Rap."

In the shorts category, EVIT student Nick Labord won second place for "Picturesque" and third place for "The Principle."

Congrats to all the winners!

EVIT aviation students assemble engines

Usually I don't have to venture off EVIT's main campus to see what our students are up to. But the aviation program is set up in one of Chandler-Gilbert Community College's buildings at PhxMesa Gateway Airport, so I drove out there today to check out their work.

I walked into their "lab" and saw this:


Pretty cool, huh? All the first-year students were working on putting engines together. This one will be on display at Tech Fest. When all is said and done, it will be a complete engine with a propeller.


First-year students in the aviation program spend much of their time learning how a plane works. Some students are interested in becoming licensed mechanics; others want to direct air traffic or fly planes for a living. Either way, learning the mechanics of the aircraft is beneficial for all students.


"They understand the aircraft a lot better once they've put them together," said Lou Amadee, EVIT's aviation instructor.

Second-year students can then enter the private pilot program, where they learn to fly.

EVIT cosmetology students hold Haiti fundraiser

EVIT cosmetology students and teachers are donating their time and skills on Wednesday to raise money for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Join us for cosmetology's "Haircuts for Haiti" event. Community members can stop by anytime on Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 1 to 6:30 p.m. for a haircut. The only cost is a donation; all proceeds will go to the help the relief efforts in Haiti.

Appointments are optional, but not necessary. And if you don't need a haircut but still want to help, stop by and drop off your donations. Any and all donations are welcome! (Make checks payable to the Red Cross.)

Need more info? Call our cosmetology department at (480) 461-4033.

Computer repair students prepare for Tech Fest

By now, I'm sure you've heard about our HUGE annual event that is coming up Jan. 30: Tech Fest. At least I hope you've heard about it. If not, you can find all kinds of details here.

In short, it's a big open house that features each of EVIT's nearly 40 programs in a fun way. This year is shaping up to be the best so far, with a crane simulator in construction, photo shoots in multimedia, SWAT demonstrations in law enforcement, and a dunk tank over by the Health Sciences Center.

Yes, that's right. A dunk tank. If you can show off your medical knowledge and/or donate to autism research, you can toss a ball to try to dunk one of your favorite health teachers.

Students and teachers have been busy this month preparing for Tech Fest and other upcoming competitions. I stopped by the computer repair class today, where some students showed me what they've been cooking up. One student demonstrated a robotic arm that moves around at all angles and can pick up objects:


And then I got to check out an underwater computer that actually works. You'll be able to try it out at Tech Fest:


The computer repair crew also will have a display board of various computer parts set up, as well as a TALKING computer. If you visit the EVIT campus for Tech Fest, be sure to check this program out.

Meet your Mister & Miss EVIT candidates

We held two assemblies at EVIT today -- one in the morning and one in the afternoon -- to introduce the Mister and Miss EVIT final candidates to the student body.

The candidates explained why they felt they would make the best Mister or Miss EVIT and answered a variety of personality questions, such as their favorite movie, food, and car.

Here are the AM candidates:



And the PM candidates:


Students can vote on their favorite Mister and Miss by throwing spare change into each candidate's jar in Building 1. The Mister and Miss (one each from morning and afternoon) with the most cash by Tech Fest on Jan. 30 will be crowned!

The money goes to a good cause, too: Mesa United Way. So, vote vote vote!

The latest in EVIT aviation

EVIT aviation students have been busy lately!

First-year aviation students were able to put their classroom theory of aerodynamics and systems into practice by using flight training simulators for both airplanes and helicopters.


We're also very proud of Matt Schmit, a student in the private pilot class. Matt completed his Private Pilot check ride during the winter break -- a very challenging accomplishment! Congrats, Matt!

Mister and Miss EVIT finalists

Congratulations to the Mister and Miss EVIT finalists!

Mister EVIT - AM:

Nicholas Sampson - Multimedia

Marc Reidhead - Medical Assistant

Miss EVIT - AM:

Briana Jordan - Cosmetology

Charity Fuller - CNA

Taylor Blades - Cosmetology

Rachel Fay Young - CNA

Monica Domschot - Massage Therapy
Mariah Dewald - Cosmetology

Mister EVIT - PM:

Cruz Olguin - Electronics

Daniel Cavaco - Surgical Technology

Miss EVIT - PM:

Daisy De Los Santos - Nursing Assistant

Monica Leftwich - Cosmetology

Sandra Ruiz - Interior Design

Jessica Watson - Cosmetology


The winners will be announced at Tech Fest on Jan. 30.

EVIT board elects new president

The EVIT governing board has a new leader! Garry Hays was unanimously elected as board president by his fellow members at Monday night's meeting. He'll be in charge of leading the board meetings and helping to develop meeting agendas.

Superintendent Dr. Sally Downey took a moment during Monday's meeting to present a plaque of appreciation to former board president Irv Heimbuck (on the right in the photo below) for his service and to congratulate Mr. Hays (on the left) on his new role.


Board member Dolores Watkins will continue in her role as board clerk.

EVIT hosts SCORE social media event

Feel like being a little social?

EVIT is hosting a social media workshop, presented by Greater Phoenix SCORE, that is sure to get you up to speed on all the latest and greatest in social media.

Attendees will learn all about the essential social media tools, they'll hear success stories from companies that have a solid social media strategy, and they will be able to discuss their particular needs with a round table of experts.

The event will be held Jan. 14 -15 in the main auditorium on EVIT's campus.

Sound cool? Click here for more information and to register.

Let EVIT massage students work their magic

Still a little tense from all the holiday shopping, baking and socializing? Perhaps the EVIT massage students can help loosen you up a bit.

The program's public clinic is opening up Jan. 21 and will be open each Thursday and Friday for the entire spring semester in EVIT's Health Sciences Center. Massages are just $5 for each half hour.

Think about that. For just $10, you could get a refreshing, hour-long massage, while also doing a good deed -- helping the students improve their massage and customer service skills!

Make your appointment today by calling (480) 461-4184. Available appointment are: 7:30, 8:40 and 9:50 a.m., and 12:15, 1:30 and 2:45 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.