Westfield Technical Academy

09/12/2026

09/10/2026

Scan the QR code or follow this link for more information: https://go.westfield.tech/collision

09/10/2026

Starting September 10th, and running until December 18th, all of our 9th grade students will have a chance to explore every program we offer. They start with the one-day experience, where they rotate through a new area each day, receiving a tour and rundown of what to expect from each of the 11 programs we offer, as well as a career exploration day. After those 12 days, the students will rank each program and get a chance to spend a full week in five of those choices.

In the final days of 2026, they get to make their final rankings and will be placed into their final program selection. We can't wait to see all the excitement as the students go through and learn some fun, new skills and gain some insight to possible future careers! 🐯

09/08/2026

During the first two days of our freshman exploratory program, we conduct comprehensive safety training sessions that provide students with the opportunity to engage with our experienced CTE instructors and acquire essential knowledge of safety protocols that relate to our programs.

The CTE instructors cover a wide range of topics, including chemical safety, emergency response procedures, and industry-specific guidelines, ensuring that our students are well-equipped to navigate the various shop environments for the first time safely and confidently over the next several weeks.

09/01/2026

The WTA Horticulture Department received a new Bobcat Track Loader today. This machine will be integrated into the hoisting curriculum and used to teach students about equipment operation, load handling, and excavation.

08/27/2026

WTA would like to thank the U.S. Army, West Springfield Recruiting Station for this tremendous award. In addition, they provided WTA staff with delicious coffee and donuts for their first day of professional development.

08/05/2026

WTA would like to give a big shout-out to the GMC Truck Club for donating $500 to Matt Osden for the purchase of tools at Harbor Freight. Matt had an ultra-successful year on Co-op and has just been hired as a full-time employee at Westfield Gas & Electric. Congratulations Matt, and thank you Tom Flaherty, Joe Mitchell, Lisa Stowe, and everyone at WG&E.

07/21/2026

The Westfield Technical Academy’s Aviation Maintenance Program showed its appreciation to Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts in Southwick in a way that only it could, by offering a thank-you ride in a 1942 Stearman bi-plane to owner Shane Murphy.

Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts celebrated 50 years in business on July 12.

“Mrs. Murphy’s has been a staple of our community for 50 years, constantly giving back to Southwick, Westfield and the local public schools. Most recently, Shane generously donated all the donuts, pastries, muffins, and coffee for this year’s Westfield Technical Academy Aviation graduation ceremony,” said AMT instructor Scott Hepburn, adding, “This flight is our program’s way of giving them some well-deserved recognition for half a century of community support.”

Hepburn and his brother Ed Hepburn, who was present for the occasion, have a long association with Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts, having worked there for many years in their youth, along with their sisters and nieces.

They originally offered the flight to Rose Murphy, who passed it to her daughter, Shane, who now runs the business with two of her children. Rose was on hand to see her daughter take off. “I could not do that, but she loved it and thought it was such a great opportunity,” she said, adding, “This is better than Six Flags.”

Ken Dromgold, president of the AMT advisory board and owner of the vintage WWII trainer, piloted the flight. He said the plane started as a Naval trainer, and after the war, spent some years as a crop duster, as many retired planes did.

Dromgold said he got the plane six years ago and has restored it a few times, keeping everything original, although he did recently put a new wooden propeller on the radial engine. He called the plane pretty rugged but said it has taught a lot of people to fly.

Now Dromgold’s goal for the plane is to “keep it looking good and give rides.” He flies veterans and auctions off rides for charities. Hepburn said Dromgold also flies every student in the AMT program every year.

The Westfield Technical Academy’s Aviation Maintenance Program showed their appreciation to Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts in Southwick in a way that only it could, by offering a thank you ride in a 1942 Stearman bi-plane to owner Shane Murphy.

07/04/2026

Westfield Technical Academy sophomore Elias Layng returned home with a bronze medal and great memories from the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, which was held the first week of June.

Layng, who was accompanied by his Information System Support and Networking Instructor E. Scott Lockwood and WTA’s SkillsUSA Chapter Advisor Angel Arenas Nieves, earned the trip after winning the gold medal in Internet of Things in the Massachusetts SkillsUSA competition.

“Eli did great at the competition. He won Bronze in the IOT [Internet of Things] category, which is awesome. He’s excited to go back next year and win gold. I think it was a great trip and an awesome experience for all of us,” Lockwood said.

This is the third year in a row that WTA earned a gold medal in the state competition in Internet of Things and went on to compete at nationals. Brady LePage, who graduated in 2026, also won gold at nationals two years in a row.

Westfield Technical Academy sophomore Elias Layng returned home with a bronze medal and great memories from the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, held the first week of June.