EVIT auto students job shadow at local dealerships

EVIT automotive technology students spent a few days earlier this morning learning about vehicle parts, service and sales while job shadowing at car dealerships across the Southeast Valley.

The students spent their class time during three days this week getting an up-close look at the industry they hope to work in someday. The experience helps them figure out which career paths will best suit their interests, said Randy Baker, an automotive teacher at EVIT, a career and technical school in Mesa.

“It’s better to know now rather than later,” Baker said. “It really opens their eyes, to be able to see what goes on behind the scenes.”

Students even have the potential to land jobs at the dealerships by making contacts and doing well during their job shadowing.

Second-year EVIT automotive student Branden Aguirre said he learned how to work with tools he doesn’t normally use, during his shadowing at Riverview Toyota in Mesa.

“I like working on Japanese cars, so coming here was beneficial for me,” said Aguirre, 18, who also attends Sun Valley High School in Mesa.

First-year student Ricky Venzor, 15, said he wants to join the U.S. Marine Corps after high school and attend college before opening his own automotive shop. Attending EVIT has been beneficial for him because it has given him opportunities he wouldn’t otherwise have had, he said.

“It helps you figure out what you want to do; you learn a lot,” said Venzor, 15, who also attends Mountain View High School in Mesa. “Plus, you don’t have to do it after school, so that’s great.”

About 50 Southeast Valley car dealerships opened their doors to show students the ropes and allow them to shadow their employees. The partnership is beneficial for the dealerships, too, because it helps them meet future potential employees.

Riverview Toyota service manager Cory Oliver

said he likes hiring EVIT students because they already have a jumpstart on their education and are further in their training than most entry-level employees. And it helps them figure out what department would be a good fit for each student.

“They might think they want to do this, but they don’t really know what it is like,” Oliver said. “Or they might get into the parts department and think that’s cool and decide to get into that aspect of it.”

Interior Design unveils sets for Video class

EVIT Interior Design students held an open house this week to show off three sets they designed and built for the video productions class.

Each set was on display for a day or two in the video productions area. Video students will be able to use the set designs for a variety of class projects.

First up was a living room/dining room set:


Then a college dorm room set:


And finally, an office set:


I'm hoping their next project is my office.

Support EVIT students and get a lower tax bill

You can make a difference for students at the East Valley Institute of Technology while also saving money off your state tax bill!

In Arizona, residents can donate to public schools to support extracurricular activities. The amount of the donation then comes directly off that year’s state tax bill, dollar-for-dollar.

Single individuals can receive a credit for up to a $200 donation; married couples filing jointly can get a credit of up to $400.

For a married couple with a $500 state tax bill, that means they could make a donation of $400 and then only owe $100 in state taxes.

The funds go to support extracurricular activities, which are optional, educational activities that enhance and supplement a child’s education. These activities include educational field trips, student club fees, competition expenses, classroom enrichment and tutoring.

Community members who donate to EVIT can direct their donation into either a general school extracurricular activities fund or to a specific classroom teacher or program.

Contributions must be made by Dec. 31 to be eligible for the 2009 tax bill. Donate by clicking here, calling (480) 461-4137 or by visiting EVIT at 1601 W. Main Street in Mesa.

Some lessons from biotechnology

I learned a lot during the biotechnology class today.

Biotech students were busy testing water samples from local restaurants, looking for evidence of E. coli bacteria. E. coli can sometimes make its way into restaurant beverages when ice has been handled with unclean hands, which I was not thrilled to learn.


The students also worked on a year-long transformation project in which they took a firefly's glow gene and inserted it into host bacteria, mass-producing the new gene, which glows green under certain lighting.


And I learned a bunch about genetically modified vs. organic produce. Here are some onion plants. I bet you can guess which side contains the genetically modified crop.

And then there were frames...

The last time I visited the construction class, the students had just begun their big class project -- building miniature houses. The houses were sort of hard to envision, because this is all there was:


But I went back on Monday, and imagine my surprise when I walked outside and saw this:


When they're all done, the houses will have doorways, windows, drywall, stucco ... maybe even a sink!


The interior design students will partner up with the construction students toward the end of the school year to help decorate the houses, too.


By next week, I'm told there will be roofs!

Students collecting items for shelters, teen moms

EVIT students are collecting donations during the holiday season for local domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and teen mothers.

Students in the morning Medical Assistant class are collecting basic need items, such as hygiene supplies, canned food, pillows, linens for twin-sized beds, and paper and office supplies. All items must be new and will be donated to A New Leaf’s domestic violence and homeless shelters.

Students in the afternoon Medical Assistant class have started a campaign called “Hugs for the Homeless,” and they are collecting teddy bears that will be given to children as they arrive at A New Leaf’s shelters. The teddy bears must be new and can be any size.

The Interior Design students are also giving back to their community, by sewing pillows to donate to the UMOM Family Shelter.

Meanwhile, Early Childhood Education students are focusing their efforts on helping teen mothers by collecting infant and toddler items, such as clothing, toiletries, furniture and toys. The mothers will be able to “shop” and pick out items from the donations.

To donate to either of the Medical Assistant projects, call (480) 461-4046 or drop items off in the lobby of the Health Sciences Center on the EVIT main campus. To donate to the Early Childhood Education project, call (480) 461-4014.

A busy weekend at EVIT

It may be Friday, but EVIT students and staff aren't winding down for the week -- they're ramping up for several weekend events.

Automotive technology students will be on campus bright and early Saturday for a FREE community Car Clinic. From 8 a.m to noon, students will conduct basic maintenance inspections, checking things like brakes, fluids and tires. Actual service will not be performed that day, but drivers can make an appointment to come back if any issues are discovered uring the inspection.


Meanwhile, fashion merchandising students will spend their Saturday running a yard sale to raise money for a class trip to California. The sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 212 W. Verano Place in Gilbert.


And then at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night, health students are hosting a comedy hypnosis show to raise money for Autism Speaks. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To purchase tickets, call (480) 461-4001.