Hershey, PA, March 2, 2015– The PA Association of Career & Technical Education Special Populations (PACTESP) presented Luis Delgado, Lewisburg, with the First Place Award for the Life Work Challenge Award. The award is presented to a career and technical education student in the state who has demonstrated growth and preparation to achieve his/her goals related to future careers. A nominating committee reviews applications for the award and makes decisions based on evidence of achievement and letters of recommendations. Luis was nominated by Dirk Metzger, SUN Area Technical Institute. Luis is the son of Ms. Francia Javier of Lewisburg.
Luis, enrolled in the Diesel Technology Program at SUN Area Technical Institute and a Lewisburg High School Senior, was nominated for the award because of his ability to reach past obstacles to obtain his goals related to career preparation. Luis received the award at a special awards luncheon held at The Hershey Hotel during the conclusion of the PACTESP conference. In attendance to share of Luis’ accomplishments was his Diesel Technology Instructor, Jack Neidig, Dirk Metzger and Wendy Chalmers, Teachers, and Doug Bertanzetti, Assistant Director of SUN Area Technical Institute. Nick Troutman, representative from Senator Yaw’s office, was is attendance as well to present a citation from the Senate. Luis received a monetary award, a plaque, and a citation from the House of Representatives (Fred Keller) and the Senate (Gene Yaw).

Luis is a graduate of the Automotive Technology Program at SUN Tech, where he earned a variety of industry certifications including: ASE Brakes, Engine Performance, Engine Repair, and Excellence Certification, and was recognized in 2014 as the Student of the Month from the Lewisburg Sunrise Rotary. He also earned an end of the year award, The Mifflinburg NAPA Award, for an Auto Tech student with the third highest GPA in the Automotive Technology Program. He also maintained an attendance average of 96%.
This year, in the Diesel Technology program, Luis has maintained a 98% attendance rate. He is working towards earning a variety of industry certifications and is on track to graduate with a Certificate from this program in May 2015. He has been described as a team player and a student who works hard to achieve all of his goals.
With letters of recommendation from Mike Espinosa, ELL and English teacher for Lewisburg High School, Jack Neidig, Diesel Technology Instructor at SUN Tech and a variety of others, the selection committee was particularly impressed with Luis’ commitment to his future goals, his work ethic, and his drive to succeed.
Luis is employed by Lewisburg Weis Markets and works between 20 -30 hours a week. His future goals include working in automotive technology and earning his CDL to become a truck driver.
SUN Area Technical Institute serves 5 sending districts in a three county area (Snyder, Union, Northumberland); Selinsgrove, Midd-West, Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, and Shikellamy. Students may opt to participate in one of 19 programs offered at SUN during their senior year in high school in order to prepare for their post-school outcomes. Students are prepared to enter the world of work or go on to further education. Visit www.sun-tech.org.