Bay View Academy Recognizes Raytheon Celebrates Accomplishments of the School to Career Program

May 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Bay View Academy’s School to Career program is hosting its annual mentor appreciation breakfast on Thursday, May 26, 2011 from 8:30 AM – 10 AM to honor the 136 mentors and business leaders who have participated in the School to Career Program for this academic year.  In what has become a Bay View community and Rhode Island business staple, the School to Career Mentor Appreciation Breakfast provides a culmination of this most successful program.  As Bay View Academy continues its mission to educate female leaders in the Mercy tradition, this innovative program provides a real life immersion in the world of business and industry.  The ten week program is designed to place students in intern positions in order to acquire firsthand knowledge of the work environment and link academics with the practical side of learning.  Many times the program leads to career employment and access to meaningful networking. “Exposing our seniors to a variety of careers via internships is a rich way to offer our young women the opportunity to participate in the area workforce.” said Barbara Bachand, School to Career Coordinator.  “With the cooperation and participation of so many businesses and mentors, the girls are placed in varied fields including; engineering, education, psychology, law, zoology, marine biology, occupational therapy, veterinary, arts, web design, applications design and information systems.  “This breakfast is a thank you to the many area business that support our young women in choosing career paths.” said Bachand.  

Sr. Mary Bernard McCann Award recipient for 2011 is RI’s Raytheon.   Raytheon has remained a true supporter of this program as evidenced by two of Bay View’s young alumnae;  Laura Nixon '07 and Keynote Speaker Christina Nelson ‘07. Laura Nixon’s first interaction with Raytheon was during her School to Career placement in 2007. The summer after completing her freshman studies in mechanical engineering at Tufts, she pursued and landed a coveted internship at Raytheon, due in large part to the networking in her School to Career placement. Laura credits the School to Career experience as a key to gaining employment as she graduates from Tufts. “Because of my opportunity provided by School to Career,  I will be starting as a full time mechanical engineer at Raytheon in Andover, MA in August.  She continued,  “I'm grateful that the combination of my Bay View placement, hard work and Raytheon’s support has produced this valuable opportunity.” Bachand is eager to celebrate the achievements of both the program and the girls.  “Christina and Laura’s  experience represents the true impact of the School to Career curriculum and placements.” Christna Nelson considers her experience invaluable.   Nelson said, “School to Career gave me the opportunity to explore my interests in different subjects beyond the classroom.  I was able to apply the skills and thought processes that I learned in my Bay View Math and Science classes to my experiences at Raytheon.  School to Career also opened my eyes to all the things I could do with my college degree.” she continued, “Thanks to my School-to-Career experience, I was able to explore the world of engineering, and was given the confidence needed to apply for more internships during my four years of college.  I was able to make the informed decision that Raytheon is the place I want to work. I am happy to report that now, four years after my initial Bay View senior placement, I will be working as a Systems Engineer at Raytheon.”  

Bay View Principal Colleen Gribbin, acknowledged the success of the program. “I am proud of the accomplishments of our young women who’s presence is widely heralded in the business community. As the reviews pour in, the quality of their service is consistently lauded for the work they do, their poise and professionalism.  The School to Career program is an enlightening experience that continues to influence our girls and provide students real world experience.”

When:Thursday  May 26, 2011 8:30AM - 10:00AM
Honoring Who: Raytheon Company with the Sister. Mary Bernard McCann Award Presented by Laura Nixon ‘07
Keynote Speaker: Christina Nelson ‘07
Where: Breakfast to be held in the
Sr. Mary Edward Walsh Dining Room
(in the lower level of St. Joseph Hall)
3070 Pawtucket Avenue • Riverside, Rhode Island

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About St. Mary Academy Bay View
St. Mary Academy-Bay View is an independent Catholic School for girls, Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12, located in Riverside, Rhode Island. In existence since 1874, Bay View endeavors to provide a quality education, permeated with the compassionate ideals of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, in order to prepare young women for the challenges of the global community of the 21st century. St. Mary Academy–Bay View is a college preparatory school accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Bay View offers a values centered curriculum based on tradition and inspired by innovation. There are currently 810 students enrolled in grades Pre-K-12. The academy is accepting applications for the 20011-12 school year. Contact Betty Sepe, Director of Admissions at 401-434-0113 ext 150 or for more information visit ww.bayviewacademy.org