WESTFIELD – On Tuesday, Governor Charles Baker toured the Westfield Technical Academy’s Aviation Maintenance Technology shop, guided by instructor Galen Wilson and students from the program. Governor Baker came at the suggestion of Mike Knapik, director of his western Mass office, before continuing on to an invitation to tour Gulfstream Aerospace. Also on hand to greet the governor were Rep. John Velis, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, Westfield Public Schools superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, and Technical Academy principal Joseph Langone.
The visit follows the announcement last month of a Skills Capital Grant Program award from the state in the amount of $500,000 to the school. Half of the award, or $250,000, was for Aviation Maintenance Technology to purchase power plant equipment, or engines, and the other $250,000 to Manufacturing Technology to buy additional state-of-the-art machines to allow more students into the program.
AMT student Brandon LaViolette demonstrates an electrical trainer to Governor Charles Baker during his visit to Westfield Technical Academy on Tuesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Baker was shown the different classrooms and simulators used in the highly technical program that he has been hearing so much about. Students explained how the mock-ups and tools operated, and the governor was able to try a few himself, including a near crash on the flight simulator from which he recovered, according to onlookers.
“He was very, very enthusiastic, and asked me a lot of questions about the program,” Wilson said.
The students, who volunteered to stay after school, lined up at the end of the tour for a photo with Governor Baker. Afterwards, they all agreed it was a pretty exciting day, and worth the extra time.
