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Business Partners of the Year: Hunterdon County
2010—Chris Gacos, Sneakers Plus
Chris Gacos, the owner of Sneakers Plus on Rt. 202 in Flemington, has been actively involved with Hunterdon County Polytech since its inception. He began by working with the district's marketing program and the Cooperative Marketing class by hiring students for co-op training. Over the past several years, he has been working with Graphics and Commercial Art classes and hiring students as graphic designers to design t-shirts and work at the company's online store, which offers schools and universities garments for various sports teams. The online store is open during each sport season allowing the students to go online and order the garments. When the store front closes for that particular sport, the orders are compiled, printed and shipped to the school for distribution. Mr. Garcos hires three or four students each year, replacing the students who go onto college with new Polytech hopefuls. He is also a member of the Marketing Advisory Committee and the Visual Communications Advisory Committee. His daughter is a successful graduate of Polytech's marketing program and is currently empioyed by MTV as an events coordinator.
2009—Flemington Rotary
Flemington Rotary has been an outstanding partner in providing Hunterdon County Polytech students with opportunities to participate in community service events using their career and technical skills and raising scholarship funds for students to continue their studies. Students have been able to showcase their talents, skills and community spirit by volunteering in events, such as the Ride for Rotary, the Annual Pancake Breakfast, the T-Shirt Art Work competition, the Soup Cook Off, and others. These opportunities allow students from specific programs to apply what they have learned and help in different areas. For example, for the Ride for Rotary event, culinary arts students served and made chili, corn-on-the-cob, salads, clams and desserts. Law enforcement students assisted with parking while commercial art and graphic art students competed in the t-shirt design competition where every rider received a t-shirt.
2008—Markirk Salon
Markirk Salon owners Marlena and Kirk Smith have volunteered every year to make presentations to Hunterdon County Polytech cosmetology students on hair cutting and coloring. The salon owners also instruct the students about professionalism and what can be expected when working in the field. Since this relationship has grown, the salon has employed several Polytech graduates.
2007—Picture Perfect
Picture Perfect, a local picture framing store, is an invaluable asset to Hunterdon County Polytech Career Academy. Picture Perfect has been a strong supporter of the commercial arts and animation programs for the past eight years. Owners Dale and Sandy Edwards have donated supplies, hosted annual field trips to the store, given gift certificates to graduating seniors as scholarships, donated money for fundraising efforts, and framed student artwork for discounted rates. Mrs. Edwards, a watercolor artist, promotes the arts for today's youth. By giving them opportunities to frame their artwork and participate in shows, contests, and displays for Friends & Family Night, she is fostering pride and self esteem in young artists.
2006—Raritan Township Police Department
Police Chief Fred Brown of the Raritan Township Police Department was instrumental in helping Hunterdon County Polytech establish its Law and Public Safety program and has continually supported the program since its inception in 2003. Chief Brown continues to serve as a member of Polytech's Law and Public Safety Advisory Board. Chief Brown has made numerous resources of the Raritan Township Police Department available to the students. Officers frequently make presentations to the class on the elements of patrol, procedures used in traffic stops, SWAT Team tactics, accident investigations and other topics. During the month of May, all of the 29 Law Enforcement students participated in a job-shadowing program allowing each student to observe in the field what they have learned in the classroom. Students have the opportunity to ride along in Raritan Township Police vehicles because of the efforts of Chief Brown, who continually promotes the program with the Police Chiefs Association.