PHILIPSBURG:--- On March 15th, 2017, over 150 students coming from the St. Maarten Vocational Training school, Academy PSVE, Sundial and Milton Peters College accompanied by their teachers and guidance counselors, visited NIPA for the annual open house. This year the open house was themed “NIPA Proud” which is the slogan of the institute.
The open house started at 9:00 am and ended at 1:00 pm. Each school came for one hour and got a preview of some of the various programs that are currently running. Students got a tour of the Skill Lab, where they received some information on the Maritime Program, after which they visited the Nursing room where there were various demonstrations. Students were able to have their blood sugar and pressure checked in that section. The ITC room explained all about the computer program and the Hospitality and Culinary section gave the students a tour of our two hotel room simulations and a taste of the food which was prepared by current NIPA culinary students.
Additionally students got the opportunity to obtain information on the new programs that are scheduled to start in September 2017, which includes Business Administration, which consists of 3 specializations. Other new programs that will be starting are: Sports and Fitness Coordinator, Small Engine Repair, Educational Assistant, Culinary Arts on a level 4, Hospitality Management, Electrical Engineering, Boat Master, Network Administrator and Automotive. A Pre-SBO (preparatory) program is also a new option for students who want to join NIPA, and need more support in areas necessary to successfully participate in and complete a chosen program. All of the current NIPA programs that are running will also be recommencing in September of this year. Feedback in relation to the open house included: “it was a wonderful open house experience” and “I can say without a doubt that all attending students and teachers were very much interested in the programs presented by your organization today. It was well presented”. NIPA plans on hosting another open house in the near future before the start of the new school year for the general public.
