Pictured: Rob Bresnahan speaking as he stands in front of the USDA’s $37,950,000 check
By: Molly Cunningham and Hannah Daidone
With microphones positioned at the front of the room and food prepared by our Culinary CTE students, school, community, and state representatives took turns delivering remarks this past Tuesday, October 6, in the high school library throughout the loan presentation ceremony for the new Wayne/Pike CTC building.
Superintendent Dr. Keith Gunuskey opened the morning by welcoming the many representatives in attendance and thanking our Wallenpaupack students for making what once seemed unimaginable possible. They are the ones who allowed our school the opportunity for this important loan of $37,950,000 from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). He highlighted the fact that Pike and Wayne counties are the only two counties in Pennsylvania that do not yet have a career and technical center designed specifically for CTE students.
Dr.Gunuskey spoke about the importance of a CTC building, with the main emphases on providing students access to the same facilities as other regions, creating skilled professionals, and strengthening our community by providing our local business with a strong pipeline of individuals. These emphases become a common theme throughout the speakers of the morning.
Dr.Gunuskey then introduced Chris Hoffman, the State Director of Pennsylvania USDA Rural Development, who spoke about the importance of rural America, despite it being only his 67th day on the job. He then introduced Glen Smith, a fifth-generation Iowa farmer who was recently Senate-approved this past August. Smith now serves as the Head of Farm Credit System, or Secretary for the USDA, and opened his remarks with Penn State football references, showing that despite his important position, he is still human.
There was an uncommon side throughout the ceremony as we watched men and women alike fidget, eat, drink, and, of course, bash different football teams. Seeing people of status interact in ways our students find normal, it made the event feel personal and real.
Smith proceeded by explaining the importance rural America has on voting and legal matters. He used the example of the Trump/Vance administration committing around $52 billion to rural communities across the country in just the past year. His focus was not necessarily on the politics themselves, but rather on the fact that farmers and rural communities make a difference to the American economy. Smith also commented that the Trump administration has a $242 billion dollar footprint, but states that every dollar was “necessary.”
This donation ties directly into the CTC building because taxpayers alone cannot be expected to fund such a large project. Government funding and generous donations have helped make a project of this size possible. With the check, politicians and the USDA hope to spread awareness of the importance of rural America while marketing and supporting more funding for similar projects.
Smith finished his remarks by signing the check of $37,950,000 dollars, validating its worth.
Congressman Rob Bresnahan continued with a speech about the full-circle moment he felt as he returned to our school after presenting the check of $3 million in the spring. He pointed out the similarities between his previous visit and Tuesday’s ceremony, such as the welcoming ambassadors and overall staff environment, along with also noting the many changes—both metaphorically and physically. He made sure to mention the new flooring, the lack of the collapsible side wall, where he had hidden his first check months ago, and various other improvements throughout the library.
Bresnahan expressed his pride in the accomplishments he could see, as well as in the success of our CTE students, and said he hopes to see that success continue. This is exactly why he described the new building as “imperative” and “important.”
Bresnahan then turned the microphone to Nathan Grace, a representative for Senator Dave McCormick. Grace spoke briefly, but in his time acknowledged our student ambassadors, emphasized Senator McCormick’s support of the development of rural communities, and urged community members to continue to fight for rural development funding.
Next came Jeff Olsommer, who expressed his excitement for the students in Wayne and Pike counties to have access to centers that will enhance vocational skills. Pike County Commissioner Ron Schmalzle spoke last of the politicians, but began his segment with a bold yet fitting, “Welcome to my home!” He went on to articulate how fortunate our community is to have strong relationships with the USDA and Politicians like Rob Bresnahan, who are only a phone call away and enthusiastic to help when needed. Ron Schmalzle ended with restating what many of the other speakers highlighted. This CTC building will not only help strengthen our community but also empower our students to learn professional skills at a younger age.
Following the professionals that spoke came Wallenpaupack’s own student guest speakers, Kady Hanor and Owen Robins. Kady Hanor, a 2nd year Exercise Science Sports Medicine (ESSM) member, gave an inspiring speech about how the CTE gave her the opportunities she needed to understand her passion for physical therapy. She touched upon the clinical rotations ESSM students get to partake in and ended her presentation stating that ESSM is the reason she found her love for sports medicine. Owen Robins, a 3rd year Protective Services Member, recounted an incredible journey through the Protective Services CTE. A journey that took him from nothing but a curious 8th grader to a certified EMT and Volunteer firefighter in his very own community. His audience was left in awe as they listened to the impact that a CTE made on his life, and a sense of pride came over the room as members realized just how much will be possible with a CTC building.
Dr. Gunuskey concluded the ceremony with graciously re-thanking everyone in attendance, making sure to draw attention to the fact that this whole project would be useless without the Students of Wayne and Pike counties. He announced that the CTC building of Wayne and Pike counties is scheduled to be welcoming students in the 2028-2029 school year and dismissed the group to optional CTE tours with our ambassadors in purple.
Many of the attendees participated in these tours, where they interacted firsthand with the students that represent the ESSM, Engineering, Childcare, Culinary, Aviation, Protective Services, Allied Health, Building Trades, Automotive, and Outdoor Power Equipment CTE’s of Wallenpaupack. Concluding with these tours solidified the reasoning behind the countless hours of hard work on the part of our school district and the government, and that reasoning is our students.
