Become proficient in Microsoft Office

The EVIT Continuing Education Department is putting together a Microsoft Office course that will teach adult students how to use five popular computer programs.

Students can take any or all of the five sections:

• Word: Students will learn how to create, write and edit documents.
• Excel: Students will perform complex equations through the use of spread sheets.
• PowerPoint: Students will create slideshow presentations.
• Access: Students will create databases.
• Outlook: Students will learn to manage notes, calendars and e-mail.

The course will start Jan. 26 and will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in EVIT's Health Sciences Center. This is a great opportunity for adults who want to improve their computer skills and become proficient in these widely used programs.

For more information, call Cliff Richeson at (480) 461-4027.

Looking forward to next semester

The 2009 calendar year is winding down, and at EVIT, that means staff and students are mid-way through another school year.

The first half of this school year has been full of successes:

• A former EVIT student challenged an Iron Chef on national TV.
• Fashion students were inspired to create "green" garments.
  
• Culinary students opened their own restaurant.
  
• Former Diamondbacks star Luis Gonzalez visited the campus and talked to students about hard work and dedication.
• Automotive students job-shadowed at local dealerships.
• Interior design students unveiled three new set designs for the video productions class.
  
• HOSA students raised more than $6,000 for autism research.
• Staff and students collected more than 2,000 canned food items for the United Food Bank.
• And cosmetology students held their annual Masquerade Hair Show and Competition.
  

But we're not done yet! There are many exciting things coming up in the spring:

• Tech Fest - Jan. 30!
  
• The crowning of this year's Mister and Miss EVIT.
• The creation of EVIT's first-ever Non-Traditional Student Club.
• SkillsUSA Arizona State Championships.
• The perfect attendance truck giveaway.
• And countless other competitions, projects and activities.

Here's to a great 2010, and a great second semester!

No rest for culinary

Even when the rest of the campus is calm and quiet, culinary students always seem to be going full throttle.


Entering the culinary kitchen today, you'd never know that the school was on winter break. Several students were in, practicing for various cooking competitions coming up in the spring.


Their teacher, Mike Turcotte, gave them pointers and timed them as they practiced.


But the smell of chocolate brought me over to the bakery side of the classroom, where I discovered this:


These bakery students volunteered to come in and work on a wedding cake, which smelled heavenly. Ahh, to be the bride and groom that gets to eat THAT.

Student of the Month

Congratulations to Brendan Clark, the Mesa East Rotary Club's Student of the Month!

Brendan was honored at the EVIT governing board meeting on Monday, where he told board members that he signed up for Mr. Pikosz's construction technologies class because he enjoys working with his hands.

"I want to go to college for air conditioning, and hopefully one day, I'll have my own business," Brendan told the board.

Here is Brendan at the meeting with his family:

Congrats, Brendan!

Mesa PD lands at EVIT

The Mesa Police Department landed a helicopter on EVIT's campus yesterday, near the law enforcement and fire science building.

Here are the law students, watching it land:


It's the first time I've ever seen a helicopter up close, and it was smaller than I would have thought.

The officers talked to students about what it is like to fly the helicopter. They are available to back up patrol officers for a wide spectrum of calls -- everything from a barking dog to a homicide. Their primary role is to support patrol, but they also can serve as a search and rescue unit.

The pilots start out as regular Mesa police officers, and then they can request to begin training to work on the helicopter. They have to go through a couple hundred hours of flight training, as well as refreshment training every 90 days.


The students got to ask questions and check out the inside of the helicopter.

The adventures of Fire and Massage, Part 2

Last week, the massage therapy students invited the fire science students over for chair and sports massages.

Today, fire students repaid the favor by teaching the massage students how to repel.



A couple of exceptionally fearless students even repelled upside-down.

Mr. Baugher offers some words of encouragement, mid-repel:

Even teachers Ms. O'Connor and Ms. McBride joined in the fun. Here they are, right after Ms. O'Connor's repelling adventure. Can you sense her relief?

A successful drive

Today was the last day of the canned food drive for the United Food Bank, and the final tally is ....

*drumroll*

... more than 2,000 items!

Mr. Allen's AM & PM programs really stood out. He and his classes donated more than 10 items per student. Wow.