Father Judge last week cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the Elliott-Lewis Mechanical Services Institute, located inside the 20,000-square-foot Career Pathways Academy behind the school.
Also in that building are the Faulkner Automotive Institute and the Connelly Welding Lab.
All three programs last for three years, with selected students learning during their sophomore, junior and senior years.
Each program consists of about two dozen students, all of whom will be job ready by the time they are graduating seniors.
The Rev. Joseph Campellone, interim president of Father Judge, emceed the program. He thanked William Sautter ’63, president of Elliott-Lewis, for the company’s $1 million gift to establish the Mechanical Services Institute.
Sautter, whose company is based at 2900 Black Lake Place in the Far Northeast, told the students they are getting a chance to work with state-of-the-art equipment. He urged them to work hard so one day they can move into upper management or own a business.
“Your future is unbelievably bright,” he said.
State Sen. Joe Picozzi and state Rep. Pat Gallagher offered remarks. Vincent Rossi spoke for the students.
Others on hand included principal Trish Rooney; Jennifer Tirendi, director of the Career Pathways Academy; HVAC specialist Joe Bain, a 2015 Judge graduate; and Jay DeFruscio, chief operating officer of Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools.
The Career Pathways Academy delivers career and technical education curriculum in occupations that are in demand in today’s workforce. ••
