Around the River Bend
Big Steps Toward Bright Futures
Hands-On Learning Driving Student Success in River Bend's Automotive Program
Ryan Lent (Rivendell Academy) is a standout student in the Automotive Technology II program at River Bend, where he has embraced hands-on learning and skill development. Ryan chose to attend River Bend because he wanted to learn a new trade and gain experience in an area that was completely new to him.
At Rivendell Academy, Ryan played varsity soccer, and outside of school he continues to build his skills by working on automotive projects on his own time. His dedication and curiosity have helped him grow rapidly in the program and he now feels confident performing routine maintenance and repairs on his own vehicle.
Ryan’s career goal is to become an automotive service technician or a mobile mechanic. One of his proudest accomplishments in the program was replacing the engine and transmission in a 2016 Volvo S60 T5; an experience that challenged his skills and reinforced his passion for the automotive field. One of his favorite memories includes a hands-on shop activity where students were able to dismantle a junk vehicle, turning learning into an unforgettable experience.
Outside of school, Ryan is a self-described cat person with four cats. He enjoys winter sports like snowmobiling and skiing and his favorite color is blue. When it comes to food, pasta (especially fettuccine alfredo) is at the top of his list.
Ryan’s advice to future students is simple: if you want to learn new skills, River Bend is a great place to do it. While CTE may not be for everyone, students who enjoy their program will gain valuable, real-world skills that set them up for success. Ryan would also like to thank his instructor, Carl "H" Hildebrandt, for being a great teacher and mentor.
Meet the Instructor: Dylan Kidder
Mr. Kidder is a 2002 graduate of River Bend’s Building Trades program and a proud RB alum. After high school, he earned an Associate of Applied Science in Forestry from Paul Smith’s College and spent about 15 years logging, both independently and with Long View Forest.
In the fall of 2022, Mr. Kidder joined River Bend as a lab assistant and moved into the Heavy Equipment instructor role in the fall of 2023. He brings extensive real‑world experience with machinery, forestry, and safe work practices to his students every day.
Mr. Kidder consistently says that the best part of his job is working with his students. He feels fortunate to have such a strong group in the program and truly enjoys coming to River Bend to teach each day.
A team of four Culinary Arts students from River Bend Career and Technical Center are gearing up for a statewide competition in February. The team will travel to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York for the event. Winners move on to the national event, later in the year, and many students become eligible for scholarships to culinary post-secondary programs because of the competition. In addition to the meal planning, preparation and presentation, this year’s River Bend team is also entering the Restaurant Management competition, which involves very in-depth record keeping and organization. In this photo, Elijah Pinon (Rivendell Academy) is making a strawberry reduction sauce to complement the plated crepe suzette dessert. After cooking and reducing the strawberries, the sauce is run through a China cap to create a smoother sauce. Elijah’s teammates for the event are Madi Balch (Thetford Academy), Lorelei St. Martin (Thetford Academy), and Kai Prosser (Rivendell Academy).
Work continues on the rebuilding of a mobile home at River Bend Career and Technical Center. The home was one of the units that was salvaged during the flooding in the Central Vermont area a few years ago. Fortunately, this home was never water damaged, but was in a park that was flooded. The work, carried on by the students in the Construction Technology class has seen a new roofing system, energy efficient windows and walls and a complete change in the layout of the interior. Here Paul Hesser (on the ladder, Thetford Academy) and Kobin Ellsworth (Oxbow High School) add the remaining pieces of the exterior siding. The next steps will include total rewiring and new plumbing of the unit.
River Bend Salon Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Reach out to Lorraine Kennedy to make an appointment.
Lorraine.Kennedy@oesu.org
802-222-5212 (ext.136)