The Bridges Foundation is holding its annual fundraiser Thursday, May 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Venture X, located at 306 S. New St. in Bethlehem. The event is sponsored by Venture X and Reset Outdoor and features food from the BAVTS Culinary & Baking Programs, an open wine and beer bar and a silent auction with items from BAVTS Programs and local businesses.

Proceeds from the event ensure the ongoing success of the Bridges Foundation and our ability to offer programs that develop a trained and motivated workforce. Tickets and sponsorship information can be found at the Bridges Foundation website (www.bavtsbridges.org/fundraisers)

The Bridges Foundation has been working to help the aspiring workforce of America since 1998. Since then, the foundation has given a monetary “Excellence Award” to a deserving students at BAVTS. While yes, this money can go toward potential colleges, it has also been tailored to the needs of the aspiring workforce. This money can be used for equipment, tools, work uniforms, certifications for your job, and so much more.

Since 1999, the foundation has given $1,013,250 in awards to our students, giving out $55,000 to 26 seniors in 2024. The Bridges Foundation also funds dual enrollment courses from Northampton Community College for engineering and entrepreneurial mindset classes. The Bridges Foundation also funded our food truck for the Culinary Arts programs. The truck has appeared at many community events and helps teach our students how to function in a working environment.

Walter J. Dealtrey founded the Bridges Foundation and has been commended for his leadership skills, commitment and determination. He graduated from Syracuse University, and while originally from New Jersey, he helped better the Lehigh Valley. He always handed the credit of his projects to the people of the Lehigh Valley, and these were not small accomplishments. He was the driving force behind the Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks system and the building of Interstate Highway 78. He ended up working for Goodyear, and after just a few years, the company allowed Dealtrey to open up his shop in South Bethlehem. His interest in Bethlehem was astounding, and it ended up earning him a reward. He was elected president of Risk Corp., an organization that promoted industrial development. He proposed the DAWN, which provided public and private money to develop a new center hub. In the mid-80s, he was elected president of the Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks Inc.

SkillsUSA State Competitions

As our SkillsUSA team members won their district competition, they went off to their state competitions in Hershey and competed in their respective field.

In third place, Cyber Security: Micah Steck; LB-12; and Christopher Doyle Jr.

In second place, Marine Service Technology: Cole Stefano; FR-11.

Masonry: Ryan Freeman-Nield; FR-12.

Motorcycle Technology: George Lookenbill; SV-12.

In first place Plumbing: Jacob Kelly; SV-12.

Precision Machining Technology: Kendra Bealer; NO-12,

Technical Computer Applications: Wyatt Jones; NO-10.

These competitors worked hard and had a lovely time at Hershey Park. The competitors were staying in the Hershey Lodge and the convention center.

Bridget Roberts, our welding sculpture competitor, told me what she did day by day. She told me how her adviser and competitors went to Chocolate World to go on the ride and pick up some snacks and other trinkets to remember their trip. They went to lunch at the soda jerk, where the rest of their schedules were explained to them, and then they were sent to the lodge. Once arriving at the lodge, the competitors prepared for dinner and went to the opening ceremony, where awards were presented like adviser of the year, the Rex Scholarship and Chapter of Excellence, in which BAVTS won gold.

After the ceremony, the competitors met with their advisers to review their schedule for the next day. Well, the next morning, most competitors were ready before 6 a.m. The competitors ate breakfast together, wished each other luck, and ran to their competition stations. Around dinner time, they finished up and ate the pizza the District 11 council sent their way. Once back at the lodge, they played games in the hall until they were called to be informed of their morning’s to-do list. Once they woke up, they went out in the hall and went to breakfast. Following the closing ceremony where competition winners were announced, the team returned to BAVTS.

We are proud of our competitors who went to the state competition. Even if you did not bring home a medal, you truly went above and beyond and made your school proud.