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May 11, 2017
May 11, 2017
LANSING – Overcoming obstacles and stereotypes to achieve success in career and technical education (CTE) programs, 32 students statewide are winners of the Michigan Department of Education’s 2017 Breaking Traditions Awards, State Superintendent Brian Whiston announced today.
“The Breaking Traditions Awards recognize high school and college students who have demonstrated success in CTE programs that are nontraditional to their gender,” Whiston said. “At a time when there is a call from various stakeholders for building a more-responsive, market-driven schools-to-jobs pipeline, it is important to recognize the efforts of these students and the programs that helped them.”
The students received the awards at a ceremony today at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. Each recipient takes home a trophy and certificate.
The department’s Office of Career and Technical Education oversees high school instructional programs that teach students skills in a specific career cluster. Most programs offer early college credit opportunities to provide a seamless transition to postsecondary education.
“These outstanding students are preparing themselves to enter a career that will benefit them individually and benefit Michigan by increasing diversity in our state’s workforce,” Whiston said. “By their determination and dedication to pursuing careers in an area nontraditional for their gender, they are role models for peers who may be considering such a career path.”
The list of awardees, in alphabetical order, by county, for each category, follows:
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2017 Excellence Award:
Postsecondary
Oceana
Mark Ramthun
Ferris State University
Dental Hygiene Program
Secondary
Kent
Binti Abdi
Kent Career Technical Center, Grand Rapids Union High School
Law/Public Safety/Corrections and Security Program
Lenawee
Ashlyn Childs
Lenawee ISD Tech Center, Adrian High School
Welding Technology Program
Alpena
Morgan Woloszyk
Alpena High School
Welding Technology Program
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2017 Merit Award:
Postsecondary
Macomb
Samantha D. Leonardi
Macomb Community College
Automotive Service, GM ASEP Program
Midland
Julia Tisdale
Ferris State University
Building Construction Technology Program
Secondary
Wayne
Victoria Batko
William D. Ford Career-Technical Center, John Glenn High School
Electronics/Robotics Technology II Program
Macomb
Jillian Bernotaitis
Romeo Engineering & Technology Center
Engineering/Mechanical Drafting Program
Macomb
Jalyn Chirco
Career Prep Center
Biomedical Machining Program
Barry
Chloe Collier
Kent Career Technical Center, Thornapple Kellogg High School
Information Technology Program
Ottawa
Micah Cuevas
Careerline Tech Center, Zeeland East High School
Natural Resources/Agriculture Science Program
Oakland
Audrey Davis
Oakland Technical Campus SW, Lakeland High School
Heavy Equipment and Truck Technology Program
Calhoun
Alyssa Everline
Calhoun Area Career Center, Pennfield High School
Law Enforcement/Criminal Behaviors Program
Bay
Grant Fry
Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center, Western High School
Early Childhood and Education Program
Calhoun
Destiny Hand
Calhoun Area Career Center, Pennfield High School
Aviation Exploration Program
Monroe
Starlyn Higgins
Monroe High School
Welding Program
Montcalm
Katelyn Ketelaar
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, Tri-County High School
Agriscience Program
Wexford
Molly Mackey
Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Cadillac High School
Agriscience and Natural Resources Program
Wayne
Sarah Marshall
William D. Ford Career-Technical Center, Wayne Memorial High School
Firefighter Program
Ingham
Temple Martinez
Capital Area Career Center, Holt High School
Hospitality and Culinary Arts Management Program
St. Joseph
Sydney Miller
Glenn Oaks Community College, Mendon Middle/Senior High School
Welding Program
Lenawee
Julie Morgan
Lenawee ISD Tech Center, Adrian High School
Building Trades Program
Eaton
Emily Newborn
Eaton RESA, Eaton Rapids High School
Animal Science and Zoo Management Program
Kalkaska
Alexis Nichols
TBA ISD Career-Tech Center, Kalkaska High School
Machine Tool Technology Program
Grand Traverse
Lexi Orth
TBA ISD Career-Tech Center, Kingsley High School
Auto Body Repair Program
Macomb
Erin Portalski
Center Line Public Schools, Warren Woods Tower High School
Law Enforcement Program
Macomb
Miranda Rumfelt
Roseville High School
Auto Technology Program
Grand Traverse
Caroline Slack
TBA ISD Career-Tech Center, Grand Traverse Academy
Drafting and Design Program
Oakland
Taylor Thackston
Oakland Schools Technical Campus NE, Rochester High School
Mechatronics Program
Oceana
Alissa Tripp
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, Hesperia High School
Mechatronics Program
Calhoun
Victoria Trudell
Calhoun Area Career Center, Marshall High School
Culinary Arts/Hospitality Program
Grand Traverse
Olivia White
TBA ISD Career-Tech Center, Grand Traverse Academy
Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology
To qualify, student had to meet these criteria:
Applicants had to provide two letters of support and write a brief narrative explaining their career obstacles faced, plus key accomplishments.
“The MDE is investing in Michigan's future by helping ensure that our students are career and college ready and have the skills the jobs of today and jobs of tomorrow demand,” said Patty Cantu, Director of the Office of Career and Technical Education. “Career and Technical Education is education that works for Michigan.”
