Ninth-grader Andrew Stanley of Arlington works in a medical lab.
The Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District, closed because of Covid-19, continues a key mission — to highlight students who are working in essential trade jobs.
Such career majors as health assisting, biotechnology, electrical and engineering are offered at Minuteman High for grades nine through 12 and Minuteman Technical Institute for adults.
“Even in periods of uncertainty, career technical education continues to be a rewarding, essential and long-term option for high school and adult students alike,” Edward A. Bouquillon, superintendent-director of Minuteman, in a May 11 news release. “We are proud of all of our students who are using their skills to provide essential services in our communities.”
In parents’ footsetps
Consider ninth-grade biotechnology student Andrew Stanley of Arlington. He is following in his parent’s footsteps, working in a medical laboratory that performs human biopsies for the state Medical Examiner’s Office, along with animal biopsies for veterinarians. Stanley is working at Mass Histology Service in Worcester, where his father, Butch, is a director. His mother is a pathologist in a different lab.
Andrew with his father, Butch, a director at Mass Histology, Worcester.
“This is helping me a lot,” Andrew Stanley, 16, said in the release. “I wanted to go into biotechnology at Minuteman because I wanted good lab experience. In the future, I want to put myself through med school to become a doctor. This would definitely be experience I can learn from early on.”
Stanley works as an assistant helping the pathologists prepare the slides used to perform biopsies, along with other functions.
Lily Mela, a sophomore health-assisting major from Lexington, began working part time at the Brookhaven at Lexington assisted-living facility in February, a few weeks before the coronavirus pandemic began.
“I wanted to protect the elders. I wasn’t concerned for my safety,” she said. “I had to stop thinking about the dangers because it wasn’t worth it.”
Mela, 16, said she serves meals to the residents – none of whom can leave their quarters due to social-distancing measures — and was provided one face mask to be reused daily. She said some of the residents have dementia and leave their rooms because of memory issues.
After each shift, Mela returns home and immediately washes her clothes and takes a shower.
“There’s some small concern, but we’re not freaking out over it,” said her father, Robert Mela. “It’s useful, meaningful work.”
“It’s solidified my urge to work in healthcare, Lily Mela said. “It’s not something that’s meant for everyone, but it’s important work to do.”
16-year-old at Brookhaven
Another sophomore health-assisting major, Layla Lubin, 16, of Concord, is also a part-time employee at Brookhaven at Lexington. Her mother, Rebecca Hercule, also works there as a certified nurse’s assistant.
Lubin, who began working at Brookhaven last December, said it is difficult not being able to interact with residents. “It’s sad because you see the resident you love talking to … and you can’t say hi and you have to wave to them from a distance.”
She’s picked up additional hours since school closed. Like Mela, she works with the food-service staff to make sure residents are receiving the proper meals, which must adhere to their unique requirements.
Both Lubin and her mother follow a strict regiment of hand washing and doing laundry as soon as they get home.
When this all started … she said [she] want to help them and do whatever [she] can for the residents. It blew my mind,” Hercule said. “She always puts the residents first. I’m proud of her.”
Works on solar panels
Robbie Finnegan, a senior electrical major from Needham, is performing maintenance work on home solar panels all over eastern Massachusetts. He was already working 35 hours a week and receiving course credit through his job at Solar Edge and Sun Power when the pandemic started.
“The physical distancing was difficult,” said Finnegan, 18. “You show up and you try to stay six feet away from people. Some people don’t want you in their homes.”
Finnegan has studied engineering at MIT Lincoln Lab, and is planning to attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell to pursue an engineering degree. At Minuteman, he was captain of the soccer and tennis teams, a member of the basketball team, and was a Student Ambassador in which he hosted school tours.
“This is one of the biggest pros of going to a trade school. It’s the real-life experience,” he said. “It’s not just a retail job on the side. You get the training, and they’re willing to train you for free.”
Older student at tech institute
Mitchell Ma, 25, of Lexington, is working as an electrical apprentice with C.A.M. Electrical Service & HVAC in Bedford as he obtains work experience toward a journeyman’s license. He is a student of Minuteman’s adult evening program, Minuteman Technical Institute.
“Everyone knows living without electricity is difficult,” Ma said. “One of our most recent jobs was completing a newly constructed kitchen. The lady who owned the home didn’t have any means of cooking … until we came to the rescue.”
“Our priority has been to stay as safe as possible while helping the community,” he said. “Coordinating with workers in other trades is a must to avoid working in close proximity with others.”
Minuteman Technical Institute is accepting registrations for the 2020-21 school year, which begins in August, at minutemanti.org.
For more information about Minuteman High School, visit minuteman.org.
This news feature from Minuteman was published Monday, May 11, 2020.
