Polytech Team Places Second at Veterinary Science Competition

Flemington, N.J. – The team of Eve Cronin, Shay Fleming, Samantha Gervasi and Molly Shanahan, students in the Animal Science Program at Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School, came in second place at a recent FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event (CDE) at Rutgers University. The event brought together 15 teams, representing FFA chapters located throughout the state of New Jersey, to complete a series of tests designed to gauge their technical knowledge and practical skills in the field of veterinary science.

Team members completed the five-part test individually, and then their scores were combined to form a team score. Polytech placed second overall, but first as a team in the H.O. Sampson component, which is based on participants’ scores in the hands-on and practicum events held throughout the day. The Polytech students excelled in an identification section, which required them to visually label a range of items from veterinary tools to breeds of various animals and parasites. They also performed exceptionally well when asked to describe and perform a specific task, which could include a restraint or a clinical procedure.

“I am so proud of our girls, especially because the hands-on and practicum events required them to develop a broad base of knowledge in preparation for a thousand possible items they could have been asked to identify and the many tasks they could have been asked to perform,” said Taryn Romanczak, advisor to Polytech’s FFA Chapter and an animal science teacher. “The students worked hard all year to prepare, even staying after school at least once a week. At the CDE, they remained poised, recalling what we had covered in class and in practice sessions to impress the judges.”

The Hunterdon County Polytech team will be recognized at the New Jersey State FFA Convention in late May, and Eve Cronin will be recognized individually for her fifth-place finish in both the overall individual ranking and the H.O. Sampson individual ranking.

This is the fourth year Polytech has competed in the FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School is the largest component of Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD). Polytech is the district’s 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 and three science-based high school academies. In addition to the Biomedical Sciences Academy, the other academies include the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy and the Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.

Photo Caption: Pictured from left to right are Hunterdon County Polytech Animal Science students Eve Cronin, Sam Gervasi, Molly Shanahan and Shay Fleming.

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