A.W. Beattie Career Center

A.W. Beattie Career Center has entered the 2024-25 school year with new state-of-the-art technology to provide students with the best educational experiences possible.

One of the most significant new pieces of equipment introduced to the Career Center is a combined 12 welding booths in the HVAC and Automotive Collision Technology programs.

Two of the new welding booths in the HVAC program will have Lincoln multi-task welders.

“The two new Lincoln welders give each student the opportunity to learn a variety of new welding processes,” HVAC instructor Mr. Wike said. “The Lincoln welders can be used in welding processes such as MIG, TIG or stick. They can also weld ferrous metals, stainless steel and aluminum.” 

There is a new Lincoln Fresh Air Welding Booth System and MIG Power260 welders in the Automotive Collision Technology program.

“Students will become familiar with new industry equipment as well as advanced technology methods,” Automotive Collision Technology instructor Joseph Pelesky said. “Students will be able to better strike an arc and learn and perform welding tasks under an instructor’s guidance.”

Culinary Arts students were recently introduced to new equipment, including a rotisserie, band saw, griddle, pizza oven and proofer that they will use in the production of food for the restaurant and catering events at the Career Center.

“This equipment is what the students will see when they work in the foodservice industry,” Culinary Arts instructor Chef Aaron Yurek said. “It will give them a competitive advantage over other job candidates as they have already received training and know how the equipment works.”

A new IDEXX blood cell analyzer machine, the ProCyte One, was also installed for Veterinary Sciences students. 

The ProCyte One is packed with revolutionary technology to efficiently provide accurate results. IDEXX in-house analyzers are the No. 1 leading machine used in veterinary practices. 

“Students in the Veterinary Sciences program will be prepared to use current industry-standard lab machines by having the opportunity to use this up-to-date technology in the classroom,” Veterinary Sciences instructor Jennifer Dumbeck said. 

The Dental Careers programs also has a newly installed Promax panoramic machine, giving students the opportunity to operate a digital x-ray machine that is able to take both full-mouth panoramic images and individual periapical images as part of the program’s radiology curriculum.

“Digital x-rays are what is being used in the dental field now,” Dental Careers instructor Paula Gibson said. “We are fortunate to have not only this digital panoramic machine, but also a nomad portable digital x-ray machine and a regular digital imaging machine.”

Automotive Technology students are already practicing their hands-on skills with a new Hunter Engineering WinAlign 680 Alignment Machine and an equally new Hunter Auto34R tire changer.

“This new equipment will deepen each student’s understanding of automotive concepts through practical, hands-on learning, making complex topics more accessible and engaging,” Automotive Technology instructor Rick Bennett said. “This experience will give them a competitive edge in the job market.”

Several programs also have newly renovated learning spaces.

The Cosmetology program’s Training Salon was redesigned with new floors and stations, and the Cosmetology theory room was rearranged to create more space for hands-on learning. The updates in the Cosmetology program also have transformed what was once a more traditional space into a more modern approach to learning. 

“These changes will not only provide an exceptional learning environment for Cosmetology students while they are in school but will also send them into their future beauty professions as top entry-level candidates,” Cosmetology instructor Cynthia Cazin said.

In addition to being outfitted with new equipment, the Network Engineering Technology and Cyber Security program’s classroom space was also completely restructured to provide more learning opportunities.

“We will perform more real-world labs and simulations, enhance our learning through doing, and get experience working with current gen technologies,” Network Engineering Technology and Cyber Security instructor Michael Lingsch said. “This will allow students to put complex principles and ideas into practice.”

The Early Childhood Education program also has a newly renovated outdoor space for students to practice their curriculum with KiddieTech preschool students.

“Having access to the outdoor space provides another environment for the high school students to observe the preschoolers and look for their developmental milestones,” Early Childhood Education instructor Cari Ludwig said. “In a way, it acts as a lab for a long-term case study project that these future educators and scholars can experience before they even graduate high school. They will be able to apply what they learn here in the ECE room and now in the outdoor learning space to coursework in postsecondary institutions.”

The Robotics Engineering Technology program now has additional electronic workstations, Fanuc RoboGUIDE simulation software that enables students to simulate and program a robot from their desktop, and PLC and pneumatics training units.

“Using industry level equipment eases the transition for students whether pursuing education or employment after high school,” Robotics Engineering Technology Instructor Michael Purucker said.

The new equipment being utilized at the Career Center was made possible through the assistance of Pennsylvania Department of Education grant funds.