Two BAVTS students competed in the Project Manufacturing Welding Competition hosted at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. They were Northampton senior Zachary Kohler and Northampton junior Braden Korpics.

The competition held Oct. 12 is designed to demonstrate and inspire a movement to restore America’s industrial base by attracting new talent to skilled trades. Project MFG shines the light on the need for an opportunity for skilled trades by focusing on the development of new talent to provide paths forward for young people and our country.

In this challenge, competitors have a TWO-hour time frame to complete their project using GMAW and/or FCAW processes to fabricate a carbon steel pressure vessel with the carbon steel materials provided. Prints and welding procedure specifications (WPS) are provided at the competition. Once completed, judges test the vessel for any leaks, then judge the appearance and fit up.

Excitement abounded Oct. 20 for BAVTS’s Open House, with s’mores, decorated pumpkins, children’s activities, graveyard paths, and spinning the wheel of knowledge, all adding to the students’ and parents’ visit to the school.

Students enrolled in the NCC dual enrollment Entrepreneurship program participated in a field trip Oct. 20 to the NCC Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship building under the direction of Raja Bhattacharya. The presentation started with a history of the Bethlehem Steel. From there students toured the Fab Lab, viewing the various opportunities available to them.

BAVTS honored veterans with a ceremony Nov. 11 to thank the veterans in our building, and the alumni from BAVTS.Students participating in the ceremony included: Freedom seniors Jah-Quae Moralez, Paige Stewart, KJ Torres, Adangelis Torres-Ortiz and Dayaniris Rivera Rosario; from BECA, senior Landon Muth; from Liberty, junior Mikiyah Finley; from Northampton, seniors Myranda Black, Justin Bracero and Aiden Weaver and junior Jada Wackley.

BAVTS also honored enlisted students, Jah-Quae Moralez from Freedom, United States Army; Cavalry Scout. and Aiden Weaver from Northampton, United States Army, Signals Intelligence Analyst.

The Liberty HS Category 4 Barbershop Quartet honored the crowd with its own version of the National Anthem and “God Bless America.” The quartet is under the direction of Julie Wydrzynski, director of Choral Music and Fine and Practical Arts Department chair. Quartet members included juniors Johnathan Colona and Connor Dinwiddie; sophomore Gracen Frank; and senior Gianfranco LaSpisa.

BAVTS would like to thank special guests from the Harry F. W. Johnson American Legion post #379 for their service to the country: Ken Nichol, U.S. Marines; Craig Sostarecz, U.S. Navy; John Bracali, U.S. Air Force; Michael Taglareni, U.S. Navy; Norm Koch, U.S. Army; Steve Melnick, U.S. Army; Richard Fasching, U.S. Air Force; Al Rice, U.S. Air Force; Joe Herkalo, U.S. Air Force; and Gene Ryder, U.S. Air Force.