BELINGTON – Nearly 200 students from the Fred W. Eberle Technical Center, which serves Upshur, Lewis and Barbour counties, received their diplomas Tuesday evening at the Barbour County Fairgrounds.
Students completed the requirements in the programs offered through the center including automotive technology, carpentry, collision repair technology, cosmetology, diesel equipment technology, electrical technician, allied health, therapeutic services, computer systems repair technology, robotics and welding.
FETC Director Rebecca Bowers-Call welcomed those in attendance and told graduates it was great to be with them as they celebrate this milestone in their lives.
“The majority of you have been with us for the last two years. We have learned together and struggled together to get through this worldwide pandemic,” Bowers-Call said. “In the beginning of the school year, our staff declared their motto was ‘be flexible.’ I am not sure any of us knew just how flexible we would have to be – particularly how flexible, you, as students would have to be.”
Bowers-Call asked the students to take a moment to celebrate their accomplishments.
“You made it! All of us – we made it – students, staff – we all made it!” Bowers-Call said.
She said she wanted to tell them what it means to be a 2020-2021 graduate of FETC.
“You graduates are strong, focused and determined. You overcame unique challenges with perseverance and grace, not knowing from one week to the next – or even from one day to the next – whether instruction would be in-person or remote, communicating any way possible with your instructors, and you stayed on the same page. When buses did not run, you found a way to get to school,” Bowers-Call said. “Our students attended school – they wanted to learn.”
“So tonight, thank you,” Bowers-Call added. “Thank you all for making FETC a place I love to come to work to every day and see the amazing things you do. Thank you for being part of the FETC family. We wish you all the best. We know you are ready for the challenges ahead.”
Next, students who achieved the honor of being National Technical Honor Society members for 2020 and 2021 were introduced. Those students showed academic excellence by achieving at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at their home school and at least a 3.5 GPA in their program of study at FETC. Students named to the NTHS also must receive a recommendation from their instructor.
FETC Assistant Director Michael Murray presented two awards: the John Williams Scholarship and the Rotary Scholarship. Both recipients attend Buckhannon-Upshur High School.
“Mr. Williams was a local businessman who started out with just a few pieces of equipment and ended up with 20 drilling rigs, dozers and 200-300 people working for him,” Murray said. “When his son graduated, he did not have a direction and his dad encouraged him to attend FETC to learn a skill. He did and two years later when he graduated, he hit the ground running. He enjoyed every day of work in his life. He was a man who had a vision of what he wanted to do and he had a skill he put to good use.”
Murray said this year’s recipient of the John Williams Scholarship is Brooklyn T. Bryant – who completed her study at FETC in the health sciences – therapeutic services program.
The next award was the Rotary Scholarship, which was presented to Abagail N. McCartney, who completed the health sciences – therapeutic services program at FETC. The Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur Scholarship is funded through a large donation to assist students in their vocation. The amount of the award is $500.
Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Harrison commended the FETC graduates.
“Our Fred Eberle Technical Center graduates represent a bright future and the ever-changing educational landscape,” Lewis-Stankus said. “The skilled workforce they represent exemplifies all the qualities of resilient and dedicated citizens, supporting our growing economy. These students are those critical thinkers and problem-solvers who will keep America strong.”
