- Diman Regional Voc-Tech
- Overview
Diman displays need to meet future as it enters MSBA eligibility phase
By Brian Fraga
Herald News Staff Reporter
Diman senior Elijah Fullerton talks about advanced academics courses at the school. Seen with him are senior Andrea Nunes, left, and junior Hope Durot (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)
Diman's Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin talks about the need for a new campus during a tour of the school Wednesday (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)
In a sophomore biology class, three students piece together lengths of differently-colored yard as long as each segment of the human digestive system, to get a graphic example of just how long our species' gut is. From left are Brenda Hickey, Brianna Sineiro, and Jocelyn Lewis (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)
Diman sophomore Ronnie Aguiar shows a visitor the results of an experiment underway in his biology class, Wednesday. The vessel contains a saltine cracker immersed in vinegar and agitated, much the way food is exposed to acid and agitated in the human digestive system (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)
Leading a tour Wednesday, Diman's Director of Co-Op Education Kevin Lazaro talks about the cutting edge equipment and techniques available to the school's students (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)
FALL RIVER — Society is on the verge of seeing artificial hearts created by 3D printers. One day soon, unmanned cars will be able to avoid crashes with the advancement of artificial intelligence.
That is the kind of future awaiting students who graduate from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School.
“This brave new world is here,” Thomas Aubin, the superintendent-director of Diman, said Wednesday before hosting a “visioning session” for elected officials from Greater Fall River.
The session was the first of several meetings planned for local stakeholders; a similar event will be held soon for Fall River business leaders. Aubin said the goal is to present the importance of technical education and what the future may hold for schools like Diman. The tours also come as Diman enters the eligibility stage with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to determine if the school is eligible to receive state funding for repairs or possibly a new facility.
“Our biggest challenge is training students for the jobs of tomorrow, many of which don’t exist yet,” Aubin said.
Elijah Fullerton, 17, a Diman senior, who will be attending the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, said Diman’s faculty and staff have been receptive of student concerns. He noted that Diman created new Advanced Placement courses.
“Diman offers you a very comprehensive education,” Fullerton said. “And they listen to their students. As a vocational school, we need to be forward-thinking.”
Hope Durot, 16, a junior, and Andrea Nunes, 18, a senior, also said Diman has been preparing them well for their futures. Durot, a student in the electricity shop, will be starting a co-op program in a couple of weeks where she will be working in that field. Nunes, who studies in the school’s health assistance program, said she plans to attend college and become a pediatrician.
“We’ve gotten a lot of experience here,” Nunes said. “It’s helped give us a head start.”
Swansea Selectman Steven Kitchin listens to a speech at Diman Wednesday (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)
Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia talks about Diman during a tour at the school on Wednesday (Herald News Photo | Jack Foley)