HCVSD Names Dr. Nicholas Avallone as Business Partner of the Year

Flemington, N.J. –Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD) has named Dr. Nicholas Avallone as its Business Partner of the Year. Avallone has shared his time and expertise with students in the district’s four-year, full-time Biomedical Sciences Academy.

An orthopedic surgeon at St. Luke’s Orthopedic Care, Avallone’s insights into preparing for a successful career in medicine, as well as his professional experiences, have added to the highly focused education of HCVSD students. He has served as a member of the Biomedical Sciences Academy (BSA) advisory board for 3 years, using his role to strengthen a relationship between the BSA and St. Luke’s Medical Center.

At his invitation last school year, seniors in the BSA participated in a hands-on arthroscopy and dissection of a cadaver leg, an opportunity not typically granted to high school students. The seniors learned how an operating room functions, as well as the skills needed to excel as a surgeon.

“Dr. Avallone has been an invaluable resource not only because of the mentorship he offers our students, but because of the commitment he has made to ensuring the success of our Biomedical Sciences Academy,” said HCVSD’s Director of Curriculum & Academies Jane Griesinger. “We have relied on guidance from professionals like Dr. Avallone who work in STEM fields to help us offer students a rigorous, but purposeful, curriculum that gives them freedom to explore their interests while building impressive resumes.”

Avallone participated in HCVSD’s 2018 College and Career Panel discussion, which helped students better understand the possible career pathways in STEM fields. The night also aimed to demonstrate how the choices students make in high school can impact their college and career success. The district looks forward to offering this event again in the future to help students prepare for postsecondary opportunities.

Avallone’s advocacy of HCVSD has led to additional learning opportunities for students in partnership with St. Luke’s. Last year, the health network expanded its career exploration program to include BSA students. Participating students engage in hands-on activities and department tours that expose them to various career options available in healthcare. Additionally, St. Luke’s has generously shared resources it has as a teaching hospital, including a mobile lab.
To learn more about the career-focused learning at HCVSD, visit hcvsd.org, and sign up to attend a Virtual Information Session for either the full-time programs on Dec. 10 or the shared-time Polytech programs on Dec. 12.

The application deadline for the three full-time, science-based academies run by Hunterdon County Vocational School District, as well as all Polytech programs, is Dec.18. Click “Apply Today” at the top of hcvsd.org.

The Biomedical Sciences Academy (BSA) is one of three full-time, science-based academies offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District. The others are the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy (CSAEA) and the Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy (ESEA). The district’s largest school is Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School, a shared-time high school that prepares students for a seamless transition to college and career paths. HCVSD also operates an Adult and Continuing Education school. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.

All pupils will be given equal opportunity for enrollment in programs operated by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B, Section IV-A). No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives federal financial assistance, et seq (34 C.F.R. Part 104.4(a)(b).