Annual Report 2015-2016 Report to the Community | Page 5

Alumni Profile

Elmer Gates Enterprise Awards
The Elmer Gates Enterprise Awards,
hosted by the Gates Family and
SkillsUSA Council, were given to
43 career & technical education
students. Students were honored
by Jodi Key and Patti Gates-Smith,
daughters of the late Elmer Gates
a founding member of SkillsUSA
Council, at a breakfast ceremony.
Students were chosen based
on their scholastic achievement,
school activities, SkillsUSA
involvement, community service,
and entrepreneurial spirit. There
were also 9 scholarships presented
to students continuing on to
post-secondary education or an
apprenticeship. These generous
scholarships were made possible
by PPL. There were also two alumni
guest speakers, Sonia Mirza and
Ross Strebig.

Workshops
Workshops provided students with
in-school opportunities to build
their employability skills. Exercises
in teambuilding taught students
how to function as a group.
Role-playing strategies provided
insights into customer service,
business etiquette, and interviewing
techniques that help students
better understand opportunities
post-graduation. Workshops also
involve Council members and other
business professionals who share
information about their experiences
and career paths.

Kristen Lopez

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Education
MCTI, Graphic
Communications - 2010
Northampton Community College,
Communication Design - 2012
Moravian College, Graphic & Interactive
Design - currently attending

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SkillsUSA Involvement
District 11 Championships, Advertising Design 3rd Place – 2009;
Advertising Design 2nd Place – 2010

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State Conference, Promotional Bulletin Board 3rd Place – 2010

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Community Involvement
OAC Member & NOCTI Proctor for the MCTI Graphic Comm. Program
Employment
Upon graduating from MCTI Kristen worked part-time job in the pre-press
department at United Envelope (2010). Upon graduating from Northampton
Community College she completed a design internship at the Media Arts
Group at the Morning Call (2012). She was then hired as a part-time graphic
designer at Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University (2013). At Zoellner
Kristen designed anything from posters, logos, to outdoor window wraps
promoting performing artists. For two years she consistently worked at both
Zoellner Arts Center and part time at Lafayette College (2013). After working
two years part-time she was hired full-time for the Communications Division
at Lafayette College. At Lafayette she’s done pretty much anything and
everything a designer could do, including printed publications, art directed
photo shoots, designed logos, posters, magazines, etc.

As well as working as a full-time designer, Kristen has been a freelance
photographer for about 5 years. Her and her husband also own two
businesses; Prevailed Studios, which is a multimedia company specializing
in photography, web and graphic design, videography, and music production
and a wedding photography and videography business called Dearly Beloved
Weddings. Kristen sees lots of great things in her future, but her goal is to
continue to grow her businesses and become 100% self-employed.
www.prevailedstudios.com www.dearlybeloved-weddings.com