Michael Keffer, a Level 2 IT Programming student from Hamburg Area High School, is making a real-world impact at Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) with his latest creation - a Cosmetology Client Record Card that allows Cosmetology students to digitally track and update client information, treatment plans, and products used at BCTC’s on-site clinic.
What started as a simple concept turned into months-long project that challenged Michael to develop his biggest and most complex program to date. “I thought this was going to be a simple project—just a webpage with a survey,” Michael said. “But I learned that saving everything was a lot harder than I thought. I had to save everything online so the Cosmetology students could initially input their client information then access and update the records over and over.”
Cosmetology students use the form to gather detailed information during an initial evaluation, including a client’s hair condition, skin tone, and eye color, along with services provided and the exact products used. The database behind the scenes grew far larger than Michael anticipated due to the wide range of information recorded for each client.
Michael wrote thousands of lines of code across four different programming languages, each serving a unique function. “One language gave the outline of the page,” he explained, describing the HTML structure. “Another gave the style of the page to make it look good,” referencing the visual design. “The third language focused on the buttons,” allowing users to interact with the form. “And the fourth language mainly connected to the database,” storing all client data securely online.
Through multiple trial runs with Cosmetology students, Michael refined the tool to meet their specific needs. The program can be updated with each new client visit, giving students a professional way to manage their services and maintain consistent records.
This is the largest project Michael has completed so far. “I’ve made smaller websites before, but this one—because of the database and everything involved—is the biggest I’ve ever done,” he said.
Michael may soon be assisting the Cosmetology program again, this time on a possible inventory tracking system—another opportunity to blend tech skills with practical, real-world applications.
His interest in coding started early, but it wasn’t until coming to BCTC that everything clicked. “When I was younger, I wanted to code, but I didn’t really understand much of it,” Michael shared. “When I came to BCTC in 10th grade, Mrs. Paulson, IT Programming instructor, broke it down so I could understand it. The more I get into it, the more I love it.”
Michael currently works at Redner’s Warehouse Markets, but his long-term goal is to pursue college for IT Programming, with hopes of working in web app development or educational tools.
To other students thinking about the IT Programming program at BCTC, Michael offers this advice: “You can start BCTC at any level and learn at your own pace.”
Michael’s hard work, curiosity, and collaboration with another BCTC program show just how powerful and personalized career and technical education can be.