Preparing food. Preparing young children for school. Preparing vehicles for a new coat of paint. East Juniata High School freshmen experienced all of these and more as they did some preparing of their own on Wednesday, February 8 with a glimpse of various career-oriented programs offered at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology.

After hearing The Academy's Assistant Director John Bilich during an assembly program late last month, all members of the ninth grade class were given the opportunity to visit the school to see what the classes are really like. Two buses took the students to the building in Lewistown, where they were split into groups of approximately 12 to visit the various classes. Each of the instructors introduced his or her particular program and answered any questions from the freshmen interested in more depth information. They also got to see enrolled students participating in their daily routines. These current Academy students included some from their home school of EJ, who were hard at work, and happy to demonstrate what they do in their classes.

There were eight “stations” that the visiting students experienced. Students learned about cosmetology, early childcare/education, auto mechanics, electrical installation, and precision machining. They got their hands dirty with welding and cutting metal with a blow torch in collision repairs, in addition to learning how to prepare a tire’s rim for painting. A candy-dispensing robot was a part of the demonstration in the Academy's mechatronics program, which is a new offering there this year, and in the culinary class, each person received a slice of freshly-made pizza.

At the end of the tour, which lasted approximately three hours, including travel time, Mr. Bilich thanked the ninth graders for coming to get a taste of the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, and encouraged them to see one of EJ's guidance counselors if they are interested in attending the school.