New Community Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI) invited area high school staff members to its first Guidance Counselor Luncheon on March 14. The event, held at Monsignor William J. Linder Plaza, introduced guidance counselors to NCCTI staff members, employer partners and students. They learned about the accredited school’s post-secondary programs and had the opportunity to ask questions.

In addition to presentations from NCCTI staff, attendees heard from employer partners who work with the school and hire graduates. Brendan Gordon of RWJBarnabas Health said he looks forward to continuing the partnership with NCCTI.

“Every single student that’s come through our system has been absolutely fantastic,” he said.

David Hutchinson of Tremco, who also founded the Rising Stars program that introduces students in the NCCTI Building Trades Specialist program to a variety of speakers and opportunities in that industry, said he’s happy to continue the three-year partnership with NCCTI.

Rebecca Colon of University Hospital discussed a recent trip NCCTI medical students took to the hospital where they had the opportunity to see medical staff in action and ask questions they had about the working environment.

Molly Cusack of Saint Michael’s Medical Center talked about how her organization’s talent acquisition specialists conducted mock interviews with NCCTI medical students to help prepare them for the hiring process.

“The students were fantastic,” she said. “Three of them volunteered right away to do the mock interview in front of the entire class.”

NCCTI Medical Assistant Clinical (MAC) graduate Sabriya Lovingood, NCCTI Patient Care Technician (PCT) graduate Monica Parker and current PCT student Christopher “Sky” Oms talked about their experiences at the school and answered questions.

Lovingood currently works at the Newark Community Health Centers in the OBGYN department. She was inspired to enter the medical field after accompanying her mother to the hospital and seeing the care she received. She is grateful she enrolled in NCCTI.

“I would like to thank everyone at NCCTI because you helped me so much and helped me grow so much and understand myself,” she said.

Parker explained that she was the oldest student in her class but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her certification and it didn’t deter NCCTI staff members from helping her achieve her goals. She currently works at Saint Michael’s Medical Center.

“The experience at the school is awesome. The staff is awesome,” she said. “They pay attention to what you need. I needed a lot of support. And they gave it to me.”

Oms is finishing up the PCT program at NCCTI and looks forward to starting his career in the medical field. He said his experience at NCCTI has been “amazing.” He heard about the school from a friend who knew he was looking to start working in the medical field.

“I always wanted to help people,” he said.

That desire has motivated him to work hard to earn his certification. He walks to and from school every day and enjoys his time in the classroom.

“It’s an amazing place to be,” he said of NCCTI.