Happy Anniversary

Well if you haven't heard by now, I can guarantee that you will be hearing about the big anniversary celebration coming up on February 22nd. You may be asking the question, "what anniversary"? Well it is the 40th anniversary of Vantage Career Center and we are preparing for one heck of a bash. There will be information about this big event on our Twitter feeds, on Facebook, on the radio and in newspaper advertising. You wouldn't believe all the excitement that is building all around the school and even in the community regarding this big event. Forty years... wow just think about that. What were you doing forty years ago. I was a senior in high school and looking forward to the next four years of my life at Western Michigan University. Gerald Ford was the president of the United States but lost the election in November to Jimmy Carter. The Cincinnati Reds were the World Series Champions and the Pittsburgh Steelers were the Super Bowl Champions. Apple computer was formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and most people were listening to Peter Frampton's "Frampton Comes Alive" album. "Happy Days" was the number one watched show in America and the billboard number one song for February 7th - 27th was "Fifty ways to leave your lover" by Paul Simon. Well like I said, that was a long time ago and for some of our staff, they weren't even born yet.

We have some incredible staff members working on this big anniversary celebration and they have put in a lot of hours to make this a very special event. The committee is led by Mrs. Wilhelm and she has put together some awesome activities for that evening.  The celebration will begin at 5:00 pm and run all the way until 7:30 pm. We will have eight food vendors from around the area so you will be able to sample some pork sliders, boneless chicken chunks, soup or a slice of pizza. Follow that up with some chips and salsa, meatballs and pub pretzels. Now if you have room, there will be ice cream, cupcakes and cookies. Every single one of our labs will be having some demonstration going on. You will be able to experience our virtual painter or enter the virtual welding contest. If you feel really brave, take a ride on a virtual 3D roller coaster using the Oculus Rift in the Network Systems lab. There will also be a raffle for the Vantage clock that was built by our Precision Machine lab or take a chance on a beautiful Vantage Quilt that was made by one of our very own office secretaries.

If you will allow me just a few more minutes, I have to mention some of the door prizes. How about winning a Mechanics Hand Free Headset LED Flashlight or a Kawasaki Cutoff Saw? Other door prizes will be women's jewelry, a fine food gift basket, Scentsy Buddy gift, a Fitbit, Kindle Fire, tablet, Welding helmet or Doterra Essential Oils basket and finally two Cornhole Sets. Like I said, this is turning out to be one fantastic open house.

While all this is going on, there will also be an anniversary proclamation to Superintendent Kaufman by Senator Cliff Hite at 5:30 pm. Immediately following the presentation, we will induct our very first members of the Vantage Hall of Fame. At 6:00, Mr. Knott and I will be holding an information session for all parents of students who are interested in attending Vantage next year. There will also be an application station for interested students to sign up to attend Vantage. Finally, there will be an alumni station in our media center with T-shirts and mugs for sale. WOW! What an open house and I hope all of you will take the time to stop by and see what we have to offer. I hope the old students will stop by and visit with us and let us know how they are doing and what they have been up to. I am really looking forward to this night and I hope you are also. See you there!