Mercer County Technical Schools’ Health Science Academy graduated its first class June 30.
After welcoming the first class of ninth graders in September 2010, the Health Science Academy graduated 19 high school seniors at a ceremony at the Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor.
The class of 2014 is comprised of students from East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Lawrence, Trenton and West Windsor.
The school is the only full-time, four-year career and technical education academy in Mercer County. To compliment the rigorous curriculum taught by the high school faculty, some students took college classes at Mercer County Community College as early as junior year. All students were given the opportunity to earn college credits through articulation agreements with MCCC and Rutgers University.
To enrich their education in the health sciences, students were actively involved in a national student organization called Health Occupations Students of America. HOSA provided a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition for the students. Graduates Vikash Bandi, Shawnee Chaudhury, Sunakshi Puri, Piyush Puri and Brianna Sheppard have represented the district in either a state or national officer position.
On June 20, students were acknowledged for receiving more than 30 different awards and scholarships totaling nearly $300,000 at a ceremony held at the school.
Among the awardees was Jacklyn Rapport of Lawrenceville, one of 22 New Jersey high school students selected by First Lady Mary Pat Christie as a New Jersey Heroes Spirit of a Hero Scholarship recipient. Rapport was selected after organizing a countywide science fair. The honor included a $5,000 scholarship to pursue postsecondary education opportunities. She plans to study biology, on a pre-med track, at Drew University in the fall.
The class of 2014 includes Omar Abouhabib, Vikash Bandi, Vishal Bandi, Shawnee Chaudhury, Jennifer Estrada, Lenaya Ford, Christopher Fulwood, Jovan Griffin, Anthony King, Alexa McCullough, Mary Alice Orent, Piyush Puri, Sunakshi Puri, Jacklyn Rapport, John Rossano, Brianna Sheppard, Nala Williams, Tricanne Wilson and Marquies Young.
Eighteen of the 19 graduates are set to continue their education at a two-year or four-year college this fall and one student will enter the armed forces. Graduates plan to attend Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, Coastal Carolina University, the College of New Jersey, Kings College, MCCC, Montclair State University, New York Institute of Technology, Richard Stockton College, Rider University, Roanoke College, Rowan University and Rutgers.
In addition to the Health Science Academy, 238 Mercer County high school students completed programs at the Arthur R. Sypek Center and the Assunpink Center on June 27. Students from both centers earned a combined $15,200 in scholarships, awards and tools.
Health occupations student Jeffton Pierre (Hamilton) is presented with the Hamilton Rotary Scholarship at the Assunpink Center Certificate and Awards Ceremony at Kelsey Theatre June 27, 2014.,
Culinary arts student Scott Pirozzi shows off his SkillsUSA medal at the Arthur R. Sypek Center Certificate and Awards Ceremony at Robbinsville High School June 27, 2014.,
