Happy New Year!

Chinese students in EVIT's adult Massage Therapy program are celebrating the Chinese New Year today!

The 14 students all are permanent residents of the U.S. and speak primarily Mandarin. They are learning anatomy, physiology and various massage techniques, as well as enough English to be able to communicate with clients. When they finish the program, they will be licensed massage therapists and they will be ready to start their new career!

But today, they took a break from all the learning to celebrate an important day in the Chinese culture -- New Year's Day! Some students even dressed in traditional celebratory garb:


Sue Gao works with the students, teaching them about the biology of massage therapy, translating for them and teaching them English. She described the Chinese New Year as similar to Christmas in the United States, with lots of festivities, family and food for several days.

Happy New Year!

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Paige Bartlett, a Highland High School student who won the EVIT Interior Design Program's Room Makeover Contest!

Paige was nominated for the contest by her friend, Teal Rutledge, an EVIT student in the medical assisting program. Paige will get a full bedroom makeover, complete with new furniture, bedding, lighting and artwork!

Paige (in the center, holding the certificate) was surprised with the announcement at the end of the EVIT Expo event on Jan. 29.

The Interior Design students are ready to get crackin' on the new design for the room. We'll post before and after pictures here once the project is complete!

EVIT welcomes Jordin Sparks

The beautiful and talented Jordin Sparks helped us kick off the radio students' brand-new-and-yet-so-long-in-the-making radio station on Saturday. Loads of people stuck around after EVIT Expo just to see her and then got to meet her, get autographs and take pictures.

Check out the fun here.

Tune into 90.7 KVIT The Goldmine when you're cruising around the East Valley!

EVIT Expo recap

If you were at EVIT Expo on Saturday, I'm going to venture a guess that you had a great time.

The campus was hopping all day long.

There was a hot air balloon...

A fun Parade of Classes...


A helicopter landed by an EVIT aviation student...


And, of course, the launch of 90.7 KVIT with the help of Jordin Sparks...

Plus, much much more!

Mr. & Ms. EVIT Got Talent

Today was the Mr. & Ms. EVIT Got Talent Show! The Mr. & Ms. EVIT candidates got to strut their stuff and prove to their fellow students why they should be new face of EVIT.

In the AM, there was singing...

And dancing...

And tennis...

And... chip eating?

I must say... he did eat the chips rather well.

In the PM, there was more dancing:

And rapping:

And handstanding!


Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last day to vote for your favorite candidates! Vote with your wallet by dropping change and bills into the jar for the students who you think should be the next Mr. & Ms. EVIT. The proceeds benefit Mesa United Way, and the winners will be crowned at the conclusion of the EVIT Expo!

Countdown to EVIT Expo!

It's our favorite time of year... EVIT Expo is this Saturday!

EVIT Expo is the school's huge annual open house. It's an opportunity for each program to strut its stuff and show the community what EVIT is all about. But more than that, it's just fun for all who attend!

Some of the exciting events this year include a Parade of Classes, a helicopter landing by an EVIT aviation student, a mock surgery by Surgical Technology students, tethered hot air balloon rides, and of course, the launch of the radio program's brand new radio station, 90.7 FM KVIT The Goldmine!

Other exciting things to see and do around campus: watch the Collision Repair Technology students airbrush designs live, get $5 haircuts and manicures in Cosmetology, make a "DNA necklace" in Medical Biotechnology, check your vital signs in Nursing Assisting, tour an ambulance in EMT, try out the green screen in Video Productions, see the robotic arm in Electronics, sample some American Barbeque in Culinary Arts, and much more! For more details about all the of events and activities, click here.

The Expo lasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The new Mr. & Ms. EVIT will be crowned at the end of Expo, at 12:45 p.m. Immediately following the coronation, the radio station launch party will begin, right in the front/center of campus, near the flagpoles. The radio launch party will include a performance by local classic rock band The Rave and Mariachi Fuego Del Sol, and a presentation by Mesa Mayor Scott Smith. At 2:30 p.m., local American Idol celebrity Jordin Sparks will help the radio students officially "sign on," she'll cut the ribbon, and she'll be the students' first on-air interview!

Don't miss it!

EVIT CNA student gets ready for her future

EVIT Certified Nursing Assistant student Krystal Mitich is getting ready to start her future this fall, when she packs her bags and heads to New York.

Krystal earned a $12,000 scholarship (per year for FIVE years) to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she'll study to become a physician's assistant. When she finishes the program, she'll have a master's degree and will be ready to get to work.

"I want to work in a hospital for a few years before deciding whether to specialize in a certain area," said Krystal, who is also a senior at Red Mountain High School.

Krystal credits EVIT with giving her an edge up over other applicants to RIT. "I honestly think (attending EVIT) is the only thing that set me ahead of everyone else," she said.

She talked to other applicants who had many hours of internship experience, but she found her experience at EVIT - which involves direct patient care - to be far more valuable. Instead of just watching, she gets true hands-on experience, helping patients and making a difference.

Congrats, Krystal! We can't wait to hear about all your future successes!