ATLANTIC CITY – New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR), of Wall Township, has received the fourth annual School/Business Partnership Award from the Ocean County Vocational School (OCVTS). The award was presented recently at a luncheon sponsored by the New Jersey Council of County Vocational Technical Schools at the Convention Center Sheraton Hotel.

New Jersey Labor Commission Kevin McCabe and Dr. Dwight Pfennig, deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, were among speakers at the ceremony. George Tabor, president of New Jersey Business magazine and business commentator on radio station 101.5, gave the keynote address. The event recognizes business partners in 21 counties who have contributed to vocational and technical education.

OCVTS and the Home Services division of New Jersey Resources formed a school to business partnership in 2003. Through a job shadowing agreement the program pairs students in the OCVTS Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) program with experienced New Jersey Homes Services technicians.

“Students are exposed to the work environment, seeing first hand how the skills they are learning in the classroom are applied in the field,” said OCVTS Superintendent William P. Hoey Jr.
“We appreciate the professional guidance the people at NJR are giving our students,” he added.

More than 40 students of instructor Todd Harrington at the OCVTS Brick Center participate in the program each year, according to Nancy Weber, OCVTS Principal of Student and Special Services.

Gerard DeToro, NJR’s manager of Service Operations, accepted the award. It was presented on behalf of OCVTS by Dr. Thomas J. Bistocchi, superintendent of the Union County Vocational Technical School and president of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational Technical Schools.

Over 200 state officials, superintendents and local business partners attended the recognition ceremony which took place during the annual fall convention of the New Jersey School Boards Association, New Jersey Association of School Administrators and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials.

The New Jersey Council of County Vocational Technical Schools is the statewide association of school boards members and superintendents representing New Jersey’s 21 county vocational and technical schools. The schools have an enrollment of more than 64,000 students.