WHAT'S HAPPENING AT NCTC?

Hello NCTC Families,

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we’re helping students explore, grow, and discover what inspires them.

For information on Work-Based Learning, please scroll down for Rob Thayer's contact information.

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Enjoy the updates!

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Last Friday evening, the Northwest Career & Technical Center (NCTC) community gathered for its annual Appreciation Night. It's a special evening dedicated to celebrating the hard work, career exploration, and incredible achievements of our program students. Director Leeann Wright opened the night by welcoming students, families, staff, and Maple Run Unified School District Board members Nakuma Palczewski and Suzanne Kenyon.

Guests kicked off the evening enjoying delicious appetizers prepared by Irons and Ales alongside sweet treats crafted by our Culinary Arts students under the guidance of Chef Paul Rocque. Unlike a traditional awards night, Appreciation Night intentionally brings together all program students to recognize senior graduation cords, program completion certificates, student organization milestones, college credits, and industry credentials.

The event featured student-led recognition of NCTC's faculty and staff, with students Uriah "Elliot" Neabar, Lilah Powers, and Leah Jamison taking the podium to lead a resounding round of applause for their instructors. A standout moment of the evening was the recognition of Engineering Technology instructor Mr. Doug Bell, who is retiring after an incredible 28 years of dedicated teaching at NCTC.

In a deeply moving tribute, the Culinary Arts program honored the memory of classmate Jacob Carter, who passed away recently. Jacob posthumously earned his ServSafe Manager Certification. To honor his impact on the NCTC family, his classmates have preserved his school locker as a dedicated memorial space filled with notes, memories, and words of support.

Instructors across all divisions recognized exceptional underclassmen and seniors for demonstrating excellence in their respective fields. The Outdoor Technology program highlighted Asher Tremblay, Evan Bessette, Colton Parker, and Jeremy Heskett as its outstanding students after a busy year of environmental stewardship, trail maintenance, and community mentorship.

Our Work-Based Learning program also highlighted the many students who stepped out into the field through cooperative educational experiences with local employers. The Outstanding NCTC Co-op Student of the Year award was presented to Ethan Barbieri, a third-year Building Trades student currently completing an electrical apprenticeship with MEI Electrical Contractors. Ethan was praised for his remarkable work ethic and will be continuing his education at SUNY Delhi this fall.

NCTC students proved their career readiness on a massive scale this year through rigorous certifications, dual enrollment courses, and state competitions:

• SkillsUSA State Competition: 44 NCTC students and staff participated in the state leadership and skills events. Gold Medalists included Adam Gagne (Carpentry), Myleigh Bergeron (Early Childhood Education), and the team of Khialyn Hamilton, Jillian Kittel-Godin, and Xandria Lambert (Promotional Bulletin Board), who represented Vermont at the National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Educators Rising: Lilah Powers earned a Bronze medal for prepared speaking, while Olivia Ventura secured a Gold medal for her "My Educator Rising Moment" presentation.

• National Technical Honor Society (NTHS): NCTC inducted 33 new members this year, with a total of 69 students recognized for overall academic excellence in their technical classes.

• Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs): Highlights included 13 Cosmetology students successfully passing their rigorous Vermont State Board exams to become fully licensed professionals. Ten Automotive students passed a combined 51 national ASE tests with Sam Hurteau impressively passing all 10 examinations offered. Dozens of other students secured LNAs, Certified Pharmacy Technician credentials, Adobe Certiport professional statuses, and ServSafe certifications.

• ACT WorkKeys: NCTC students earned an impressive 6 Platinum and 46 Gold National Career Readiness Certificates.

• Dual Enrollment: Students across multiple programs pushed themselves by taking advantage of transcripted, transferable college credits through partnerships with Central Maine Community College (CMCC), CCV, and VTSU.

2026 Scholarship & Special Award Recipients

Award / Scholarship/Recipient(s)Program / Criteria

Timothy N. Trombley Scholarship/Theo DeCiantis, Brandon Garrow, Vernon Ouelette, Lucas Parah/

Building Trades

Harrison Concrete Scholarship/Ethan Barbieri/Building Trades

Stanislas & Scangas Scholarship (Trades)/Nolan Howrigan, Collin Langevin, Jordan Blanchard, Tucker Lussier/Building Trades (Leadership & Ingenuity)

Stanislas & Scangas Scholarship (Culinary)Joshua Ryea/Culinary Arts (In honor of the Open Hearth Restaurant)

Elaine Begnoche Scholarship/Lilah Powers/Exemplifies a wonderful spirit and a daily smile

Jolley Scholarship/Alex Courtois/Recognized for going above and beyond

Vermont Honor Scholarship/Leah Jamison/Statewide recognition for a top graduating senior

The evening reached its pinnacle with the presentation of the Outstanding 2026 NCTC Student of the Year to Human Services student Joslyn Bessette. Joslyn was selected for perfectly aligning with NCTC's mission through academic excellence, active leadership in SkillsUSA, outstanding performance during her spring internships, and her daily dedication to going above and beyond.

The memorable night concluded with all graduating seniors taking the stage to receive their NCTC honor cords before gathering together for a group senior picture. Thank you to the students, staff, families, and regional industry partners who continue to make the NCTC community a vibrant place to learn and grow!

Congratulations to our four outstanding students who recently traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete at the National SkillsUSA Championships!

Accompanied by Olivia Petrie and Stephen Allard, three students represented Vermont in the Promotional Bulletin Board competition, while one student competed in Construction. Throughout the event, they represented both our school and the state of Vermont with professionalism, pride, and excellence.

A special thank you to our community for your continued support of Career and Technical Education and for helping make opportunities like this possible. We are incredibly proud of these students and all they accomplished on the national stage!

We're incredibly proud of Madalyn, one of our Public Safety & Law Enforcement students, for her quick thinking and courageous actions during a serious medical emergency. As a student in Mrs. Koch's program, she has spent the year learning about emergency management. When faced with a real-life situation, she stepped up to help when it mattered most. Her calm response and willingness to act made a difference.

Please join us in celebrating this remarkable student and the positive impact she had on someone else's life. Thank you to Mrs. Koch for instilling the confidence in your students and showing how to care for each other.

[Here's a link to all of the photos.]

Last Friday we proudly celebrated 31 outstanding students from across eastern Franklin County as they signed commitments to begin their careers with local employers in the automotive, construction trades, cosmetology, manufacturing, and medical fields.

While athletic signing days often receive the spotlight, today was about recognizing another group of talented young people whose skills, dedication, and hard work are preparing them to make an immediate impact in our communities. These students are entering high-demand careers that help keep our businesses running, our infrastructure growing, our families healthy, and our communities thriving.

We're equally grateful to the employers who have invested in the next generation by providing training, mentorship, and employment opportunities. Their partnership demonstrates the critical role they play in developing our future workforce and strengthening the local economy.

The skilled trades are the backbone of our economy, and today we celebrate both the students who are stepping into these important careers and the employers who are helping them succeed.

Please share this opportunity. Here's the job posting on SchoolSpring. Please share and spread the news! https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=5624063

You don't need to be a builder to support in Building Trades, you don't need to be an engineer to support in Engineering. You just need a willingness to support a NCTC program when a teacher needs to be absent. Teachers leave detailed plans and you get to connect with some amazing high school students focusing on their future!

If you have questions about post-graduation plans, please contact Mrs. Bosland at sbosland@maplerun.org or 802-527-6512.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, please reach out to the resources below.

Crisis and Emergency Support

• Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS) Crisis Line: 802-524-6554 press 1
• Howard Center Crisis Line: 802-488-7777
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: dial 988
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
• The Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+ Support): 866-488-7386
• Trevor Lifeline Text/Chat: Text START to 678-678
• Crisis Text Line: Text VT to 741741

Additional Community Resources

• Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (Food, Housing, Fuel): 802-527-7392
• Division of Economic Services (Utilities Assistance): 800-479-6151
• Martha’s Community Kitchen: 802-524-9749
• Reach Up: 800-479-6151
• United Way 2-1-1 (Community, Health, and Human Resources): dial 211
• 3SquaresVT: 800-479-6151