Rep. Aaron Kaufer was recently recognized as a legislative mental health champion in recognition of his outstanding work on mental health issues at Mental Health America’s Regional Policy Council Legislator Awards Breakfast in Boston, Massachusetts, which was held in conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) legislative summit. He is pictured with his award (from left) with Mental Health America’s Mental Health and Systems Advocacy Vice President Debbie Plotnick and Mental Health Partnerships Advocacy and Policy Vice President Alyssa Schatz.

On Thursday, June 9, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) joined representatives from Lowe’s of Edwardsville, the West Side Career and Technology Center (WSCTC) and Capone Interiors to recognize the beginning of renovations to the WSCTC Café. Lowe’s awarded a $19,960 grant to the SkillsUSA Chapter at WSCTC. These funds will be used for renovations, which will ultimately transform the classroom into a real restaurant, allowing students to prepare and serve meals to faculty, staff and external customers. Kaufer assisted in facilitating this grant for the updates to WSCTC’s café. Pictured (front row, from left) are Rep. Kaufer, SkillsUSA student Paul Hager, SkillsUSA President Sarah Bannon, SkillsUSA student Ryan Zaruta and WSCTC culinary student Parker Dieffenbach. Pictured (back row) from left, are Joint Operating Committee members Patrick Musto and David Usavage, WSCTCT Principal Richard Rava, Lowe’s of Edwardsville Store Manager Jessica Vickerson, WSCTC culinary teacher Heidi Miller and Rep. Kaufer’s former staff member Richard Adams. Barbara Capone from Capone Interiors was absent from the photo.