The new year brings new resolutions and among the most popular resolutions, Americans vow to get healthy, lose weight, and get in shape. With the national obesity rate rising, Americans continue to search for solutions to stay healthy and keep fit. Corporations across the country also feel the squeeze to get, and keep, their employees healthy in an effort to lower the escalating cost of health insurance. The movement toward better health has created a new market of jobs for today's high school students. Based on this current trend, statistics project an increase in jobs for personal trainers and fitness instructors. Erie 1 BOCES recognizes this increased demand and has designed programs to prepare students for future career opportunities.
"Erie 1 BOCES has expanded program offerings for area high school juniors and seniors to include new courses designed to educate students today for the career trends of tomorrow," said Rosemary Conley, director of Erie 1 BOCES Career Development Services. "The Certified Personal Trainer program will enable graduating students to immediately enter the workforce earning an estimated $30,000 a year in addition to building a solid curriculum foundation for future college courses such as athletic training and sports medicine."
The Certified Personal Trainer program includes topics in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, fitness, anaerobic vs. aerobic training, new techniques in personal training, supplementation, and starting your own personal trainer business. Upon completion of this two year program, students will be prepared to take the American Council on Exercise Certification Examination (ACE), which is a nationally recognized and accredited organization. The curriculum is a basic foundation to post-secondary studies in physical education, exercise physiology, athletic training, sports medicine and sports management.
"The Certified Personal Trainer program will be educating our youth to be role models for current and future generations by stressing the importance and benefits of physical fitness and nutrition," said Trevor Buccieri, SCSM Health/Fitness Instructor. "Additionally, it will contribute to our nationwide collaborative effort to reverse our nation's statistic of being the most overweight country in the world with over 65% of our population being overweight."
In addition to the new Certified Personal Trainer program, area high school juniors and seniors will also have the opportunity to enroll in the Fashion Design and Merchandising program and a Biotechnical Engineering course.
The Fashion Design and Merchandising program has been developed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to gain entry level employment or further their education in the design, manufacturing and merchandising of garments and accessories. The first year focuses on the world of fashion design. Students use state-of-the-art computer software, sewing machines and serges to create their designs. The curriculum includes units of study in fabric, color, fashion design salesmanship, and retail management. A spring fashion show will offer students the opportunity to highlight their designs. In the second year, students use virtual business management/retail software to simulate retail management. Videos, guest speakers, field trips and internship experience will enhance their studies.
The Biotechnical Engineering Course exposes students to the diverse fields of biotechnology including biomedical engineering, bio-molecular genetics, bioprocess engineering, and agricultural and environmental engineering. Students in this course will apply biological and engineering concepts to design materials and processes that directly measure, repair, improve, and extend living systems. Lessons engage students in engineering design problems that can be accomplished in a high school setting.
Biotechnical Engineering is one of the specialty courses offered in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Pre-Engineering curriculum, which applies and concurrently develops secondary level knowledge and skills in biology, physics, technology, and mathematics.
Parents of high school students who are interested in learning more about these new offerings are encouraged to contact their child's guidance office for additional details or call (716) 821-7035.
About Erie 1 BOCES Career Development Services
Erie 1 BOCES Career Development Services provides some of the most exciting educational opportunities available to high school students, adults, school personnel and employers in New York. Secondary career and technical education is offered to high school 11th and 12th graders at three state-of-the-art career and technical centers: Harkness, Kenton, and Potter as well as various off-site locations. Career and technical education programs are designed to provide a hands-on experience that reflects the real world of work in career fields of student interest.
About Erie 1 BOCES
Erie 1 BOCES is a regional public education service organization with a mission to "commit to those we serve - students, staff and communities - by understanding, anticipating and responding to their needs." Erie 1 BOCES offers a variety of services to 20 component school districts within Erie County and offers select services to school districts throughout New York State. Erie 1 BOCES administrative office is located on the Education Campus in West Seneca and is dedicated to educating students at six additional locations. These locations include the Harkness Career & Technical Center in Cheektowaga, Kenton Career & Technical Center in Tonawanda, Potter Career & Technical Center in West Seneca, Northtowns Academy in Tonawanda, Southtowns Academy in Hamburg and the Workforce Development Center in Cheektowaga.
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Media Contact:
Candace Reimer
Director, Communication Services
716-821-7193
creimer@e1b.com