Team Denmark

Three of Denmark's top pastry chefs have been on campus all week, using the culinary department's kitchen to practice for the World Pastry Forum Championship.

The chefs are practicing their skills (and adjusting to the new climate) over and over again, perfecting their creations in the hopes of capturing the top prize at the event, which will be held July 5 - 6 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. They'll be competing against teams from around the world, including Italy, South Korea and the United States.


We'll update the blog with photos of their creations after the competition -- we wouldn't want to give away any of their secrets. ;)

Bringing home the gold

Three EVIT students made us especially proud last week, when they competed at the national level and brought home gold medals.

Dozens of EVIT students participated in the Health Occupations Students of America and SkillsUSA national conferences, both of which were held last week. As usual, EVIT brought home lots of honors, including the three gold medals.

HOSA

*Laura Kulas, allied health, won a first place gold medal in pharmacology by beating out about 50 other competitors.

Laura Kulas with her HOSA gold medal.

*EVIT's HOSA team earned the honor of making the largest contribution to the organization's national service project. Each HOSA chapter was asked to raise money for Autism Speaks, and EVIT students raised $6,125 during the school year -- a much higher amount than any other group.


*Gema Martinez, health foundations, received the Barbara James Service Award for donating the most volunteer hours to a hospital (she volunteered 175 hours!).

*Two EVIT students (Cassandra Srutowski and Laura Kulas) placed in the top 10 percent of the Kaiser Permanente scholarship challenge.

*Both of EVIT's "HOSA bowl" teams cracked the top 32, making it to the second round for the first time ever! Congrats to bowl team members Cassandra Srutowski, Nidhisha Patel, Ashley Baeumlisberger, Alex Rist, Austin Roper, Krystal Jovel and Jodi Copeland.

SkillsUSA

*EVIT radio students Breanna Bullis and Nicole Bird beat out teams from 17 other states to bring home gold medals in the radio broadcasting competition.

Breanna Bullis (left) and Nicole Bird with teacher Steve Grosz.

*Fire student Alec Langton placed 7th out of 26.

*Cosmetology student Jessica Watson placed 6th out of 52.

*Culinary student Kimberly Hodges placed 5th out of 30.

*15-year-old baking student Calena Srutowski placed 11th out of 40.

*Half of the EVIT students participating in the competitions placed in the top 7 of their contests.

Great job to all who competed! You made us proud!

Calling all future marketers

Do you dream of owning your own business someday? Are you hoping to land a job marketing your favorite sports team? EVIT's Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship class could be for you!

Students will learn marketing fundamentals, sports marketing, entrepreneurship, advertising, sales, Internet marketing and e-commerce. The class will open EVIT's first-ever student-run store, and students will be able to take advantage of internship opportunities and will have a membership in DECA, an international association of high school and college marketing students.

Teacher Jeff Samaniego is holding an informational open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21 on the EVIT campus for current and prospective students. Interested? Have a friend who is interested? Join us, and bring your friend -- both of you will be entered to win a new black Wii!

Call (480) 461-4000 for more information on the program or the open house event.

EVIT students compete at the national level

Dozens of students are representing EVIT this week at two major national conferences.

Several EVIT students are attending the National Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Leadership Conference in Orlando, after placing high in the state competition in April.

Several others are competing at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, after winning gold medals in their state contests in April.

Wish them luck, and check back here next week to see how they did!

No rest for cosmo

Most EVIT students are on break this summer, which has left the campus feeling a bit empty. But a couple of programs are in summer school mode, including cosmetology.

Cosmetology students need a lot of extra hours of schooling to complete the requirements to become state board certified. So they're working hard over the summer, perfecting their skills.

In Janette Brabb's class, the students spent the week learning a variety of braiding techniques: rope braids, French braids, invisible braids, corn rows. Today, they got to practice what they learned.


Meanwhile, other cosmetology students were working on their cutting and styling techniques on real, live clients.

Keep up the good work!

EVIT goes global

EVIT's amazing new 3D printer was put to work this week when a group of middle school students came in to train on the software and try their hand at designing objects.

EVIT has partnered with Brian Beaulieu and The Great Globe Project, a worldwide initiative that aims to get kids excited about math, science and engineering. Millions of middle schoolers across the world will band together to use research and 3D technology to create a large replica of the globe that eventually will be assembled and erected in Arizona. Each student will be assigned a small portion of the Earth, and they'll use the 3D printer to create their individual tile, which will fit into the larger Earth.

The printer is the first of its kind to be used in Arizona, and it's being housed at EVIT, where our own students will be able to benefit from the technology. The computer program and printer will be used extensively by EVIT engineering students, as well as students from other programs (such as health students who need a model of a heart for a lesson, or 3D animation students who want to see their designs come to life).

Mr. Beaulieu brought a group of Scottsdale middle school students in this week to train them on the industry-standard software. It was a sort of test run, to see how easily the kids learned the program and the best way to introduce the technology.


They created designs like this:


And printed them out here:


And produced some amazing finished products, like this pen by Brandon Abranovic:


"I'm really excited about the program," said Micaela Abranovic, Brandon's mother. "They're learning a program used by people with college degrees."

"Heart of Mesa" award presented to EVIT board

Mesa United Way officials visited the EVIT governing board meeting on Monday to officially present the "Heart of Mesa" Award to the school.

EVIT staff and students received the award for their extraordinary efforts in raising nearly $16,000 last school year to support the Mesa United Way.

"Things like that don't just happen because people want to want to win an award," said Dan Wollam, Mesa United Way's interim executive director. "They want to move their community to a higher level."

Dan Wollam speaking to the EVIT governing board on Monday night.

EVIT met and exceeded each standard set for the Heart of Mesa Award, including a high participation rate among the staff and various gift levels.

Read more about how EVIT raised the money here.

Come see us!

Tours of the EVIT campus are held every Tuesday at 9 a.m. during the summer. Call (480) 461-4034 for more information or to reserve your spot.

If you've never been on campus before, you will be impressed, despite the heat.

Adults: It's time to enroll for Massage Therapy

Take the leap. Change careers, learn a new skill or reinvent yourself. It's a great time to do it: EVIT is accepting enrollment into its adult massage therapy program.

The program will run from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays - Fridays, Aug. 16 - June 4 on the EVIT campus. Students will pay competitive tuition rates and will leave the program prepared to take the state licensing test.

Students will learn a variety of massage therapy techniques, including:

• Swedish
• Sports
• Lymphatic
• Acupressure
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
• Thai/Yoga Massage
• Aromatherapy
• Hot Stone Therapy

Sound interesting? Spots are filling up, so reserve yours today by calling (480) 461-4027.

Dr. Downey appointed to AYES board

Congratulations to EVIT superintendent Dr. Sally Downey -- She has been named to the Automotive Youth Educational Services board of directors!

AYES is a partnership among automotive manufacturers, dealerships and secondary automotive programs that seeks to encourage young people to consider and prepare for satisfying careers in retail automotive service or advanced studies in automotive technology.

Dr. Downey is taking the seat previously occupied by Kay Martin, who recently retired. The seat will expire in 2012.

Here's what AYES Chairman Jim Sinclair had to say about Dr. Downey's appointment to the board: “Under Dr. Downey's leadership, EVIT has become an inspirational example of how the AYES school-to-career model benefits students, local dealerships and schools, and the automotive service industry. The important educational perspective coupled with her personal and professional experience brings added perspective to the AYES board. Her commitment to the students and their success in the future will match the high motivation level of the rest of the board.”

News Coverage

East Valley Institute of Technology's 3D Summer Service Learning Course Sparks Imagination and Heart
Arizona Public Schools Making a Difference - July 26, 2011

East Valley Institute of Technology Unveils New Campus
MyFoxPhoenix.com (Channel 10) - July 22, 2011

EVIT to open east Mesa Campus, expanded health building
East Valley Tribune - July 18, 2011

East Valley has wide array of school options to meet kids' needs
East Valley Tribune - July 14, 2011

East Valley Institute of Technology a gem in quest for better education
East Valley Tribune column - March 8, 2011

Mystery Chef Dinner at EVIT
March 4 Ahwatukee Foothills News article - March 4, 2011

EVIT partners with California company to offer classes in India
East Valley Tribune article - March 3, 2011

Student-run radio station at EVIT
Channel 12 "School Solutions" feature by Kim Covington - Feb. 15, 2011

EVIT radio students to learn craft on air
Arizona Republic - Feb. 1, 2011

EVIT featured on the Fox 10 Morning Show

EVIT Expo featured on the I Heart Mesa blog, Jan. 21

EVIT radio goes live on air in January: Dec. 3 East Valley Tribune article

Merging occupations: Employers want employees who are multi-skilled: November/December Techniques Magazine article

East Vally high school students really take off on weekends: Nov. 25 East Valley Tribune article

Photos: EVIT Thanksgiving Prep: Nov. 22 East Valley Tribune slideshow

Video: EVIT Thanksgiving Prep: Nov. 22 East Valley Tribune video story

Culinary students take orders for Thanksgiving baked goods: Nov. 16 Fox 10 article and video

New EVIT campus to feature aviation, health courses: Nov. 14 East Valley Tribune article

Tempe Mayor, EVIT to be awarded for community leadership: Nov. 9 KPHO article

Culinary students dish up Thanksgiving treats: Nov. 9 Arizona Republic article

EVIT culinary students take orders for Thanksgiving baked goods: Nov. 6 East Valley Tribune article

Valley benefits/opportunities: Support EVIT students at EVITEF breakfast: Nov. 6 Phoenix Business Journal article

Pampered on the cheap: Nov. 4 E-College Times article

East Valley holds plethora of school options: Oct. 30 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT celebrates National Surgical Technologist Week: Sept. 20 KPHO article

Foundation dedicated to helping women opens in East Valley: Sept. 15 Arizona Republic article

FCC awards construction permit to EVIT radio program: July 25 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT offers enrollment completion days this week: July 25 East Valley Tribune article

Column: Radio free Mesa: July 22 Arizona Republic column by John D'Anna

EVIT hosts open house Wednesday: July 19 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT accredited for young childhood education: July 10 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT students bring home gold: July 2 East Valley Tribune article

Mesa youths head to Mexico to study, volunteer: May 25 Arizona Republic article

Student wins car for perfect attendance: May 24 Channel 12 video

Mesa students head to Guaymas, Mexico in Sister Cities exchange program: May 24 East Valley Living article

EVIT student with perfect attendance to win truck: May 23 East Valley Tribune article

More adults coming to EVIT for new-career training: May 16 East Valley Tribune article

Surgical Tech careers in high demand: May issue of Techniques Magazine

EVIT's Downey wins national education award: April 23 Arizona Republic article

Mesa students take on sustainability projects: April 21 Arizona Republic article

Gilbert EVIT student helps create unique guitar lamp: April 10 "News By You" Arizona Republic article

EVIT culinary students win scholarships: March 26 East Valley Tribune article

East Valley students win almost $160,000 in scholarships: March 25 Arizona Republic article

Mesa hosts students in Sister City from Mexico: March 9 Arizona Republic article

EVIT's Mystery Chef Dinner to be held Thursday: East Valley Tribune's "The Dish" column, March 8

EVIT to offer 2-semester EMT program: Feb. 26 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT hosts SkillsUSA competition in Mesa: Feb. 25 Arizona Republic article

East Valley school providing students with real-world job experience: Feb. 5 Phoenix Business Journal article

EVIT preparing students for a tech world: Feb. 2 Arizona Republic article

Interactive tech fair Saturday at EVIT: Jan. 27 Arizona Republic article

EVIT students cut hair to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims: Jan. 21 Arizona Republic article

EVIT teen DJs find the right mix on radio: Jan. 15 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT HOSA students raise $6,000 for autism research: AZ Schools Making a Difference, Dec. 16

EVIT student wins 1st place in AZ Masonry Skills Challenge: Nov. 30

EVIT Prepares students for jobs: Nov. 22 Arizona Republic column by Carol Peck

EVIT culinary program featured on Mesa Talking with Scott Anderson: Oct. 29

EVIT culinary arts program attracting more students: Oct. 28 Arizona Republic article

Medical assistants finding entry-level jobs: Oct. 27 Arizona Republic article

EVIT gets ok for campus near Gateway Airport: Oct. 13 East Valley Tribune article

Two EVIT teens attending Vogue fashion workshop: Oct. 13 Arizona Republic article

Gonzo tells EVIT students to stay in school, pursue dreams: Oct. 12 Arizona Republic "News by You" article

EVIT to vote on east Mesa building plans: Oct. 7 East Valley Tribune article

EVIT students open new restaurant: Sept. 29 Arizona Republic article

Valley students lose (and win) on 'Iron Chef': Sept. 28 East Valley Tribune column by Jess Harter

Former EVIT student on Iron Chef America: Sept. 23 Gold Canyon Today article

Students turn household items into 'green' garb: Aug. 24 Arizona Republic article (See Channel 12 video here)

More Mesa students focus on vocations as the school year starts: Aug. 14 Arizona Republic article

EVIT surgical program wins accreditation: June 23 Arizona Republic article

EVIT plans first branch campus in east Mesa: Jan. 28 East Valley Tribune article