Congresswoman Lori Trahan Tours Whittier Tech

HAVERHILL — Superintendent Maureen Lynch is pleased to share that Congresswoman Lori Trahan visited Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School yesterday.

Whittier students and Skills USA Leaders Lauren Fitzgerald, a senior from Salisbury, and Ryan Link, a sophomore from Haverhill, led a group including Congresswoman Trahan, Rep. Lenny Mirra and Haverhill Mayor Jim Fiorentini on a tour of several programmatic spaces at the school Thursday, including the new Allied Health Careers Center, Advanced Manufacturing, Auto Body/Collision Repair and Heating/Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC), which is currently under renovation.

“We were thrilled to host Congresswoman Trahan today and showcase the programming we offer here at Whittier,” Superintendent Lynch said. “The support of our legislators is invaluable, especially as we work to expand and continually improve our programs and the training available to our students. Vocational and technical education is critical for providing young people with pathways to in-demand jobs in our area, and it’s exciting to know our representatives want to support that.”

Congresswoman Trahan has visited all of the vocational schools in the third congressional district, and Whittier Tech was her last school to tour.

“As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I’m really committed to making sure that technical schools get the funding they need and we’re making education like this more accessible to more kids, and as noble as comprehensive high school,” Trahan said. “And we know this education leads to great paying jobs that stay in our communities without being outsourced.”

Trahan also praised both the high school and adult education programs at Whittier.

“Whittier is an institution that not only understands the importance of our giving young people the skills they need, but also to retrain and give new skills to adults,” Trahan said. “This school is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. They utilize their assets and the investments they have made so we can close the skills gap in this part of the state.”

Rep. Lenny Mirra also lauded the career opportunities made possible by Whittier’s programs.

“There’s a huge demand for skilled workers and it is critical to keep our state’s economy vibrant and growing,” Mirra said. “Businesses don’t come here because the weather is nice. It’s because we produce skilled workers.”