Instructor with Universal Technical Institute meets with classes to talk about high demand skills

Students in Michael Reeser's Intro to Power Mechanics class at SPHS are learning about basic automotive mechanics and small engine operation.

The class, offered as part of the Manufacturing Academy at St. Peter High School, connects classroom instruction while incorporating hands on learning applications for students to construct, assemble and repair small engines while adhering to professional safety standards.

Ensuring students are prepared for careers beyond high school, the class explores engineering, manufacturing & technology career fields along with educational opportunities.

Chad Loosmore of Universal Technical Institute, recently visited the class to demonstrate how advanced mechanical technologies are putting skilled technicians in high demand careers. Students were able to connect what they are learning in this class to how this can prepare them for tomorrows careers.

Chief Financial Officer of Rivers's Edge Hospital, Lori Zook, visited with George Schoenborn's Entrepreneurial students on Friday, March 29. Lori brings a wealth of knowledge through her educational training, including a BA in Business Administration, Accounting and Spanish from Augustana University and a Masters in Business Administration from Penn State University.

Zook shared her passion with working with numbers grew while working at the US General Accounting Office before she gained experience in accounting with health care and through a  private firm. Her experience prepared her for her career today by becoming familiar with many industries including, banking, construction, manufacturing, real estate development as well as her aspiration for Health Care.  

Zook encouraged students to learn everything they can and gain as much valuable experience as possible. She talked about maximizing hands on learning opportunities as not everything is acquired  in the classroom. She also championed that students should, "Read, explore and keep reaching. Ideas can stagnate, but you never know when something you have learned will help you communicate with someone else and start building a bridge, leading to something good."  

Schoenborn is grateful for such community-wide support as local professionals reinforce what students are learning in the classrooms.

"Connecting what we are talking about in our everyday lessons with what our local businesses are doing, really helps students apply the skills they are building on with to potential careers,” he said. 

Saint Peter High School culinary arts students from Amanda Pogatschnik’s class took part in the recent Culinary Regional Arts Venue in Education (CRAVE) competition at the Courtyard by Marriott Event Center in Mankato.

The CRAVE event has two components. A culinary challenge and interactive demonstrations hosted by local culinary professionals. The culinary challenge includes judging in knife skills, table setting/napkin folding, food art, culinary (safety/sanitation, organization/teamwork, tasting; and cake decorating (buttercream or fondant).

Winning awards from SPHS included the following:

• Rosie Hernandez - first place in fondant cake decorating
• Yume Bollum and Lauren Mayer - second place in culinary
• ​​​​​​​Amanda Sikkema and Claire Dimock - third place in buttercream cake decorating

The Saint Peter High School Trade and Industrial classes with Warren Peterson and Michael Reeser designed and constructed the awards for the CRAVE competition in their engineering and woodworking classes.  Awards were given out to the top three winners in each event.

Ashleigh Moelter, founder and co-owner of The Refinery visited with George Schoenborn's Entrepreneurial Class on March 19th.  

As part of her visit, Moelter shared her personal experiences on starting her own business, marketing techniques, sales tips, the ups and downs, and networking advice.

Students taking the Entrepreneurial class follow the Junior Achievement Company Program model while developing and selling their own products. The class was engaged and had many questions for her as they develop their own company models and troubleshoot how to make their own businesses successful.

Moelter talked about taking an accounting class in high school and encouraged students to follow their passions as it led her from a career that started in Human Resources to a success self employed business.

Saint Peter High School will be one of three schools participating in the first annual Culinary Regional Arts Venue in Education (CRAVE). This high school event highlighting interactive activities in the food industry will take place on Monday, March 18, at the Courtyard by Marriott Event Center in Mankato.

“This experiential hands on learning opportunity for students is made possible through the South Central Perkins Consortium funding and local industry partnerships,” Mandy Quist, Saint Peter Public Schools’ PreK-12 College & Career Counselor, said. “More than 100 students in grades 9-12 from Saint Peter High School, Mankato Public Schools, and Le Sueur-Henderson High School will take part in a variety of competitions while interacting with local professionals in the industry.”

This event has two components and SPHS FACS (Family & Consumer Science) instructor Amanda Pogatschnik has been preparing her students for this competition. A culinary challenge and interactive demonstrations hosted by local culinary professionals. The culinary challenge includes judging in the following categories:

• Knife Skills
• Table Setting/Napkin Folding
• Food Art
• Culinary (Safety/Sanitation, Organization/Teamwork, Tasting)
• Cake Decorating (Buttercream or Fondant)

The Saint Peter High School Trade and Industrial classes with Warren Peterson and Michael Reeser are designing and constructing the awards in their engineering and woodworking classes for the CARVE competition.  Awards will be given out to the top three winners in each event.