2007 PAVESNP
Life/Work Challenge Award Winner

Annually, PAVESNP recognizes students who has overcome barriers in realizing his/her potential and is a senior enrolled in an approved career and technical education program.  At the Mid-Winter Conference in March 2007 the following students were honored:

Life/Work Challenge Student Award

First Place Recipient

 Susan Smith is a senior in the Child Care and Support Services Management Program at Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School in Mechanicsburg. Susan has overcome many obstacles in her life by putting her energy and hard work into her studies. She has been a student in the Child Care Program for three years and during that time has distinguished herself through both her excellent work attitude and her outstanding people skills. She is well respected among her peers and is loved by the preschoolers.

Academically, she has always been concerned with completing assignments and improving her grades. She has been a strong member of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and has helped with every fundraiser and has gone out of her way to help with community service projects, supporting every project with time and energy. Susan has an excellent attendance record, and has attended school on days when her sending school did not provide transportation and she had to find an alternative. She is working on obtaining her driver’s license, applying to schools, preparing for graduation and looking for a job. She is eager to work in the child care field and to work with children with special needs.

Susan’s instructor in the Child Care Program is Monika Rahn and Brad Polovik is her Special Populations Facilitator at Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School.



 Second Place Recipient

Lee Gerhart is a full-time student at the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) – Brownstown Campus. As a junior in the Visual Communications Cluster, he completed the program competencies and enrolled in the Desktop Publishing Program as a senior. He has demonstrated incredible strides both academically and personally while at LCCTC.

"Considering all the obstacles I have faced throughout my life, I never thought I would live a ‘normal’ life. When I was born, I had a severe heart defect and required three open heart operations. During the last surgery, I lost my hearing, vision and motor skills. My family never gave up hope and eventually my sight and hearing returned, but never completely. My parents learned about the technique of ‘patterning,’ which is a series of repetitive movements to stimulate the brain. This process is done three times a day for 24 hours. To have this constant therapy, a total of 42 of my family’s friends and relatives volunteered to provide this service over the years. Because of this faith and support, I beat the odds! I am going to graduate in June and pursue a college education."

Lee has worked with a partner on "live" jobs such as creating business cards for local businesses. He is a team player with dependability, responsibility and cooperation being held in high regard.

He was nominated by Curtis Elledge, Learning Facilitator, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13.