Bucks and Montgomery counties’ seven technical schools have equipped their students well as the 2019 graduating seniors prepare for jobs in the workforce, enter the military, study abroad and attend universities such as Lehigh, Drexel, University of Pittsburgh, Fairleigh Dickinson and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Of a graduating class of 342 at Bucks County Technical High School (BCTHS) in Fairless Hills, 98 are headed to the work force, with several joining construction unions or working for SEPTA, and another 24 entering the military. Nearly two-thirds are bound for further education at universities, community colleges and technical/trade post-secondary schools. The valedictorian and salutatorian are both headed to Drexel, and others will join the ranks of new students at Lehigh University and the University of Pittsburgh.
These grads were awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships and grants from colleges they plan to attend as well as $50,000 in cash scholarships received on senior award night.
At the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) in Willow Grove, where students from nine school districts in Eastern Montgomery County attend half-day programs, 228 completed one of 14 different areas of study. Thirty-eight, or 17 percent, of graduates will work in related fields and 16, or seven percent, are headed to the military.
Another 64 percent, or 146 graduates, are pursing related post-secondary education at schools such as the University of Arizona and Drexel. One graduate will spend the next year in Germany through the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Program before returning to the US to attend Johnson and Wales University.
The EASTERN Foundation, supported by businesses, various community organizations and individual donors, awarded $40,000 for academic and technical achievement to 128 students.
The Middle Bucks Institute of Technology (MBIT) in Jamison is graduating 235 students. During the 2018-2019 school year, they earned a total of 1,642 industry certifications in fields as diverse as nursing, dental assisting, welding, cosmetology, Adobe Photoshop, network cabling, fire-fighting and emergency medicine. Of these newly minted grads, 179 are beginning full- or part-time jobs and six are starting apprenticeships in carpentry, electrical and plumbing with local unions. Thirteen grads are entering the Air Force, Army, Marines and the Navy.
One hundred are pursuing full-time study and another 47 will attend post-secondary schools and universities such as the Pennsylvania College of Technology, affiliated with Penn State University, the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, the University of Miami and Bucks County Community College.
Across Bucks and Montgomery counties, there are countless opportunities for students to explore and pursue their interests while often earning college credits. We invite parents and students to investigate how they can get a competitive advantage by enrolling in a Career and Tech Ed School. Learn more about the opportunities offered.