Destiny Vargas, a senior in the School of Cosmetology has a passion for both learning and teaching. Her commitment to academic excellence has earned her a 3.83 GPA. Combined with her persistence, drive, work ethic, and character, Destiny has been deservedly named Student of the Month for April.

Hailing from Totowa, Destiny has always had a strong interest in the sciences. "My curiosity about how the natural world works and how it is broken down into smaller components initially attracted me to Biology, and later drew me to Chemistry. Cosmetology, especially skincare, actually has a lot to do with science," she said.

While the self-proclaimed 'science nerd' still maintains an interest in cosmetology, Destiny has realized her true passion is for teaching. With a scholarship to William Paterson University under her belt, Destiny is ready to fulfill her dream of becoming a high school chemistry teacher.

Destiny recognized her natural ability to teach others by offering free tutoring services and assistance to her peers. "The look on a friend's face when they do well on a test after I help them, is extremely rewarding. When they succeed, I succeed," she said.

Outside of the classroom, Destiny has found gratification in helping to train puppies to become seeing eye dogs. Working with 4H, she provided foster care and training for two dogs and attended puppy club meetings. Under her guidance, both dogs successfully completed their training and went on to be placed with individuals in need of their service. "It was hard to say goodbye to the dogs, but it was also a source of pride," she said.

When asked what advice she would give to fellow PCTVS students, Destiny hopes her peers realize that it is sometimes the little things that count. "You don't have to be a Nobel Peace Prize winner to make a difference in our world. You can make a big impact, one person at a time, by just being kind and trying to put a smile on someone's face," she said.

Congratulations, Destiny, for your outstanding academic achievements and personal success! Your dedication to learning and teaching are sure to take you far in your chosen career path!

From an early age, Student of the Month Kendrick Dominguez of Paterson has always been a tinkerer, taking things apart to see how they work. As a hands-on learner, this curiosity was a major contributing factor in his decision to choose the Manufacturing Technology career path in PCTI's School of Applied Engineering. With a rigorous schedule of 15 AP and Honors courses, Kendrick has earned an astounding GPA of 4.28 and has been a standout student in his program.

Kendrick's four years of study in Manufacturing Technology have fueled his interest and enhanced his skills in creating machines. He plans on committing to study at NJIT, where he will major in Manufacturing Engineering Technology. "I absolutely plan on continuing in this field and becoming a machinist. My goal is to push the boundaries of technological innovation, as I work to manufacture the next generation of phones, laptops, and other tools and devices," he said.

Kendrick has already assembled an impressive resume for his chosen career path. He has earned 10 college credits towards an Associate of Applied Science degree in Manufacturing Technology from Bergen Community College. Additionally, he has successfully completed the requirements for the CNC Milling Machine Operator Certification from the National Institute of Metalworking Skills. One of his most valuable experiences has been manufacturing the components for experimental lockers for the International Space Station as part of the NASA HUNCH program. "Working on the NASA project has definitely sparked my interest in working in the Aerospace industry," Kendrick noted.

Outside of the classroom, Kendrick can be found volunteering with the PCTVS Marching Band, participating in Student Council, or serving as a proud representative of the Manufacturing Technology program by helping with open houses.

Kendrick's advice to his peers is to take the time to volunteer. "One of the most valuable things about PCTVS is its culture of volunteerism. I have found that the more you help out, the more you want to help out," he said. "It is incredibly rewarding."

Congratulations, Kendrick! We can't wait to see what you do next!