MARGATE – Students at the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School are bright-eyed today after considering what their future holds. The school held its annual Career Day event April 17 with visits from professionals in five fields of work.
The event reflected this year’s student body theme – “STAND OUT” – employing the values of scholarship, talent, athletics, neighborhood, determination, organization, uniqueness and being a team player.
The annual event has been organized by school psychologist and counselor Dr. Jacque Jones for the last 10 years.
“We bring in five professionals from different fields each year, so the students get a good overview of careers over their four years in our school,” she said.
This year students heard about government and business from Mayor Michael Collins; advertising, design, marketing and video production from Nick Palmisano, co founder of 11th Floor Creative Group; restaurant entrepreneurship from Lucy Paccione, owner of The Other Lucy Beach Grille; and archeology from Jen Janofsky, professor of history at Rowan University and director of Red Bank Battlefield Park.
Jones said the students were intrigued with the archeological dig activity presented by Prof. Janofsky, but unfortunately, she was upstaged by the U.S. Coast Guard MH65 helicopter that landed in the athletic field across from the school.
Students rushed out to see the easily recognizable orange helicopter circle around twice before gently setting down in the grassy lacrosse field.
Members of the Margate City Fire Department were on scene to set out strobe lights in the corners of a 150-foot square landing zone, while students poured out of the school to line the fence, keeping a safe distance away.
Eighth grader Michael Shapiro was first to speak for his class.
“It’s really cool that we could get our school to do this. We are very grateful to have the privilege to do this,” he said.
Students chatted amidst the excitement pronouncing which branch of military service they preferred.
Eighth grade ESL teacher Michelle Cossaboon smiled at their comments.
“The whole idea is to get them to talk about their future careers,” she said.
Students were invited in class groups to get up close to the helicopter and speak to the pilot and crew, which included a rescue swimmer who lowers the “litter” or basket to make rescues from a capsized boat or medical transports from cruise ships.
Lt. Kellen “Frenchy” French, who pilots the helicopter out of the U.S. Coast Guard Station at the Atlantic City International Airport, said there is a future for lacrosse athletes to play while they are serving in the Coast Guard.
Many of the students who have family members who are lifeguards received a bit of encouragement to consider a career as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.
“Wherever you find beautiful beaches, you will find a Coast Guard station,” he said.
Parent Rachel Miller, whose husband is in the Coast Guard, helped get the Coasties to the school.
“My son Brody Miller said, ‘Mom, could you get dad to bring them to our school?”
It didn’t take much wrangling to get the Coast Guard to agree.
“We do this kind of recruitment all the time, especially for middle and high schools,” French said.
Before leaving, French asked the students to pose in front of the helicopter while he took a selfie video for his superior, Capt. Jeff Graham, who was celebrating his birthday.
“We really like our captain, so when I count to three, everyone shout out ‘Happy Birthday!” he said.
The students were happy to oblige before returning to the school for early dismissal for spring break.
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