"Christmas VOcation" ~ LCCTC Enters a Tree in the Festival of Trees

The advanced students in Machine Tool Technology have been “busy little elves.”

What are they up to? They’re making Christmas ornaments for the “Christmas Vocation” tree that our school is sponsoring in the Lawrence County Festival of Trees; trees will be on display from November 25-27th this year at Neshannock Township School District.

The LCCTC tree will feature 13 medals, carefully cut by the advanced MTT students from a solid block of metal, milled to make the edges nice and smooth, and drilled to allow each to be hung from the bough of a Christmas tree.

Etched using a CNC milling machine are 13 different logos, symbols of each of the 13 different shops offered at LCCTC: Automotive Technology, Collision Repair, Computer and Office Technology, Construction Trades, Cosmetology, Electrical Occupations, Health Assistant, Machine Tool Technology, Oil and Gas, Restaurant Trades, Veterinary Assistant, and Welding.

Even more intriguing is that these medals aren’t necessarily original in design. These are the same medals that have been earned by the graduating seniors at the SkillsUSA Signing Day Event; this event celebrates high school senior in Career and Technical Education across the nation who have chosen to pursue a career as a professional who helps close the skills gap including careers in the skilled trades, United States Armed Forces, or acceptance into a union, trade school, or college/university.

In addition to the medals, each shop is in charge of designing a fancy shop-themed ornament, and believe us — these kids can get super-creative when it comes to doing tasks like this!

This tree will be filled with more than just pretty metal ornaments and shop-themed baubles; it becomes a reminder of the great things to come for students who choose to pursue a career that is enhanced by training in career and technical education, and for the lucky winner, it can be a conversation piece for years to come!