The land of the free because of the brave. On Veterans Day, Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School honored its staff and enlisted students with a prerecorded video made with the assistance of the SkillsUSA and HOSA officers. Normally, the ceremony is a live event; however, following COVID Compliance procedures the event was recorded to protect the safety of our staff and students. We are providing the YouTube link to you to view at your leisure. https://youtu.be/r8lTJd7SrYY This year’s ceremony was dedicated to Robert Tresize, the beloved spouse of instructional assistant Sally Tresize, who served our country in Vietnam.

Jonae Jimenez, a senior from Freedom HS, honored us with an a capella performance of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Watch the YouTube video and hear her beautiful voice.

The following staff members were honored for their service: Stan Dixon, Building Trades instructor, USMC; Michael Galler, Supervisor of Curriculum, USMC and Pa. Army National Guard; Sergio Rivas, Video Media Arts instructor, U.S. Army; and Kevin Strawn, Electrical Construction instructor, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army National Guard.

The enlisted students were: Kaila Gazaway, Northampton, 12, a U.S. Army Reserve, Medical Logistics Specialist; Josiah Sandoval, Freedom, 12, a Pa. Army National Guard, Nineteen Kilo Armour Crewman; and Xavier Soto, Freedom, 12, a Pa. National Guard, Artillery Specialist.

Students involved in the preparation and ceremony include: Chris Frey, SkillsUSA Ambassador, Homeland Security/Protective Services, Saucon Valley-11; Elizabeth Rodriguez, Color Guard, Homeland Security/Protective Services, Liberty-12; Yazli Rodriguez, Color Guard, Homeland Security/Protective Services, Liberty-12; Trebor Rubino, SkillsUSA Ambassador, Homeland Security/Protective Services, Northampton 11; Paige Sciarra, Color Guard, Homeland Security/Protective Services, Liberty-11; Alessandra Scipioni, SkillsUSA president, Homeland Security/Protective Services, Freedom-12; Jenna Sebring, HOSA Reporter, Health Careers, Northampton, 12; Joseph Sheats, SkillsUSA Ambassador, Automotive Technology, Northamptnn-11; and Abby Sipel, HOSA President, Health Careers, Freedom-12.

Three students have been recognized by the Bethlehem Rotary for their achievements this fall. They include September honoree Kaila Gazaway, a Northampton senior in Health Careers; Izabella Block, a Freedom senior in Fashion Industries for October; and for November the representative is Jheremy Iparraguirre, a senior from Liberty in the Graphic Communications program. Our own Nikki Gingrich, director of Development and Marketing, is the current chair of the vocational committee.

The Rotary is a volunteer organization with 33,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. It initiates humanitarian projects that address challenges affecting the world today, such as hunger, poverty and illiteracy. Rotary Club members unite a broad cross-section of business and professional leaders around the world around a common mission: Service Above Self. These 1.2 million men and women donate their expertise, time and funds to support local and international projects, helping people in need and promoting understanding among cultures.

Rotary’s flagship program is its effort to protect children against polio. It aims to eradicate the disease from the world.

The SkillsUSA officers and ambassadors recently attended leadership and ambassador training. Those students included: Alessandro Scipioni, Freedom-12, president; Cody Trauger, Liberty-11, vice-president; Keily Gaetan, Liberty-12, treasurer; and Treyvon Fitzpatrick, Liberty-11, secretary. The following students are ambassadors for the organization: Brooke Brinker, Saucon Valley-11; Christopher Frey, Saucon Valley-11; Avery Ortiz, Northampton-12; Trevor Rubino, Northampton-11; and Joseph Sheats, Northampton-11.