Sanford Regional Technical Center held its annual Celebrating Partnerships event on Wednesday, March 18. The gathering brought together local business partners, educators, and students to highlight successful individual program advisory councils, internships, and strengthen community connections.
SRTC Director Matt Petermann welcomed attendees, expressing gratitude for their continued support and emphasizing the importance of community partnerships for student success. Petermann noted that SRTC is one of the largest CTE centers in the state, serving students across 25 programs. "You are not waiting for the pipeline to fix itself," Petermann told the assembled partners. "You are in the pipeline, helping us. The return on that investment walks out of this building every single day." Career Aspirations and Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator Sally MacDougal followed, emphasizing how central those partnerships are to what students are able to accomplish. "It's because of your partnerships that we can really assist our students in achieving their goals after high school," she said.
A highlight of the evening was a student panel featuring Connor Wilcox, Heidi Smith, Anderson White, Ashton Feeney, Braeden Landry, Linda-Rose Krol, Cae Sullivan, Will Finley, and Cadence McGrady, who shared their experiences in their respective programs. Landry, a Video Production student, described his internship with the Sanford Mainers, which led to a promotion as Assistant Director of Videography. "I get to put on the headset and direct," he said. Connor Wilcox, an Electrical student interning with Wakita Electric in Shapleigh, reflected on how much the real-world experience added to his classroom training. "It's tremendously more eye-opening than the classroom to what the actual field is like," he said. Anderson White, finishing his third year in Welding and Metal Fabrication, spoke about nearly a year spent interning at Rubb Manufacturing in Sanford. "I've really set myself up for the future," he said. Building Trades students Will Finley and Ashton Feeney, along with Early Childhood Education students Cadence McGrady and Cae Sullivan, also shared how their programs and internship placements have prepared them for life after graduation.
Many of the students on the panel had just returned from competing at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in Bangor. SRTC sent 104 students to compete across 51 events against the other 26 CTE centers in the state, returning home with medals in 31 competitions, including 18 gold, 14 silver, and 19 bronze, with 51 students earning recognition overall.
The evening's food was provided by SRTC's Culinary program students, whose spread drew well-deserved praise from attendees throughout the night. The Agriculture program also contributed, providing the floral centerpieces that decorated each table.
Before and after the panel discussion, representatives from local businesses networked throughout the venue, exchanging ideas and exploring potential partnerships with SRTC programs. Program advisory committees, composed of local business professionals, ensure the curriculum remains relevant to today's workforce needs. After the panel, committee members met with instructors while community members toured SRTC's facilities. Businesses or community members interested in getting more involved with SRTC programs are encouraged to reach out to the center directly.