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May 17, 2019
LANSING – Ninety-one high school and college students statewide, who overcame obstacles and stereotypes to succeed in career and technical education (CTE) programs, today received 2019 Breaking Traditions Awards, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced.
“Building talent is a priority in Michigan, so it’s important that we recognize students who overcome perceived barriers and the programs that helped them,” Interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles said. “These 91 students achieved success in career and technical education programs that are nontraditional to their gender, and therefore are role models for peers who may be considering such a career path.
“Michigan benefits from Breaking Traditions Awards through an increasingly diverse workforce,” Alles said.
Awards criteria included:
Applicants provided two letters of support and wrote a brief narrative explaining their career obstacles faced and key accomplishments.
MDE’s Office of CTE 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 – a key strategy to help Michigan become a Top 10 education state in 10 years.
“The Breaking Traditions Awards extend beyond individual students. These awards also represent the quality of the school culture,” Brian Pyles, Director of CTE at the Michigan Department of Education, said. “Clearly, these schools embrace an inclusive student focused instructional environment supported by staff, students and community.”
Awardees are invited to MDE’s annual Breaking Traditions Awards ceremony from 1:30-3:30 p.m. today at the Michigan Historical Library Forum. In alphabetical order, by county, for each category, they are:
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2019 Excellence Award:
Post-secondary Level
Kent County
Brooke Oliver
Ferris State University
HVACR Technology Program
Secondary Level
Calhoun County
Meredith Coon
Calhoun Area Career Center, Harper Creek High School
Aviation Exploration Program
Midland County
Samantha Hand
Bay-Arenac Career Center, Sanford Meridian Early College High School
Engineering Drafting Program
Ingham County
Chloe Miner
Wilson Talent Center
Aviation Academy Program
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2019 Merit Award:
Post-secondary Level
Mecosta County
Silvia Bouck
Ferris State University
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program
Jackson County
Turner Burnett
Ferris State University
Dental Hygiene Program
Secondary Level
Calhoun County
Hayley Adkins
Calhoun Area Career Center, Pennfield High School
Construction Technology
Eaton County
Sarah Bancroft
Eaton RESA, Grand Ledge High School
Game Design and Programming
Wayne County
Rachael Blackburn
William D. Ford Career-Technical Center, Belleville High School
Game Design and Programming
Allegan County
Jacqualine Conroy
Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center, Allegan High School
Building Trades
Jackson County
Natalie Coppernoll
Jackson Area Career Center, Grass Lake High School
Construction Trades
Wexford County
Erin Dusa
Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Cadillac Senior High School
Digital Media Production
Montcalm County
Taylor Henry
Montcalm Area Career Center, Central Montcalm High School
Construction Trades
Genesee County
Sophia Jones
Grand Blanc High School
Woodworking
Ottawa County
Zoe Knoper
Careerline Tech Center, Jenison International Academy
Software Engineering
Benzie County
Clara Kroll
Traverse Bay Area ISD Career and Technical Education Center, Glen Lake High School
Front Street Writers
Ottawa County
Isabell Lazcano
Kent Career Technical Center, Lee High School
Law/Public Safety/Corrections and Security
Clinton County
Cassidy McGeorge
Grand Ledge High School
Drafting and Design Technology/Architectural
Macomb County
Ashley Quinn
Romeo Engineering and Technology Center
Drafting and Design Technology/Architectural
Missaukee County
MIckayla Riedel
Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, McBain Rural Agricultural School
Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Wayne County
DeAsia Rodwell
William D. Ford Career-Technical Center, John Glenn High School
Construction Technology
Wexford County
Karsyn Rogers
Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Cadillac Senior High School
Engineering Technology
Allegan County
Samantha Sakon
Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center, Hopkins High School
Heavy Equipment
Charlevoix County
Erin Smith
Boyne City High School
Energy Fundamentals: Lineworker Emphasis
Washtenaw County
Sabrina Stock
Saline High School
Welding, Brazing & Soldering
Kent County
Sara Tatreau
Kent Career Technical Center
Aviation Electronics
Alpena County
Carey Udell
Alpena High School
Agriscience & Natural Resources
Muskegon County
Emily Unger
Montague High School
Montague FFA
Lenawee County
Analysia Villalovos
LISD Tech Center
Computer Programming
Oakland County
Synthia Yang
Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest, Brandon High School
Mechatronics
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2019 Certificate of Recognition:
Post-secondary Level
Mason County
Danielle Gerbers
West Shore Community College
Criminal Justice/Police Science
St. Joseph County
Kyra Stewart
Glen Oaks Community College
Automobile Technician
Secondary Level
Clare County
Megan Allen
Clare-Gladwin Career Tech Center, Clare High School
Culinary Arts Program
Van Buren County
Janell Babcock
Van Buren Technology Center, Hartford High School
Welding Program
Macomb County
Lauren Bayless
Frederick V. Pankow Center
TV & Broadcast Media/Broadcast Journalism Program
Oakland County
Michaela Bell
Oakland Technical Campus Southwest
Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair Program
Manistee County
Amber Brave Bull
Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Bear Lake Schools
Power Sports and Equipment Program
Cass County
Shaelyn Bundy
Van Buren Technology Center, Dowagiac Union High School
Agriculture & Natural Resources Program
Iosco County
Jennifer Colvin
Bay-Arenac Career Center, Whittemore Prescott Jr/Sr High School
Agriculture & Natural Resources II Program
Mason County
Rachel Cooper
West Shore ESD CTE, Ludington High School
Criminal Justice Program
Ottawa County
Sarah Dipiazza
Careerline Tech Center, Allendale High School
Engineering Design/Machine Technology Program
Wayne County
Chloe Doherty
Downriver Career Technical Consortium, Southgate Anderson High School
Mechatronics Program
Grand Traverse County
Leona Eckert
Traverse Bay Area ISD Career and Technical Education Center
Public Safety/Protective Services Program
Wayne County
Dejah Elder
Randolph Career and Technical Center
Welding Program
Hillsdale County
Grace Emens
Hillsdale Area Career Center, Hillsdale Area Career Center
Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Program
Macomb County
Janae Fields
Fitzgerald High School
Radio & Television Production Program
Eaton County
Sage Gardner
Eaton RESA, Charlotte High School
Criminal Justice Program
Wayne County
Amani Ghadieh
Michael Berry Career Center, Fordson High School
Hospitality Studies Program
Ottawa County
Donna Gonzalez-Larios
Careerline Tech Center, West Ottawa North High School
Auto Body Repair Program
Newaygo County
Abi Graham
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, Fremont High School
Welding Program
Clare County
K-Lee Gushen
Clare Gladwin Career Center, Clare High School
Construction Trades Program
Tuscola County
Victoria Hall
Tuscola Technology Center, Millington High School
Welding & Fabrication Program
Oakland County
Aracely Hernandez-Ramos
Oakland Schools Technical Campus International Technology Academy
Automotive Services Technology Program
Ottawa County
Macy Hodges
Careerline Tech Center, Grand Haven High School
Auto Technology Program
St. Clair County
Sylvie Hurtubise
St. Clair Technical Education Center, Marysville High School
Construction Trades Program
Mason County
Kelsey Kosiboski
West Shore Community College, Mason County Central High School
Agriscience Program
Macomb County
Jennifer Linnenbrink
Warren Woods Tower High School
Hospitality & Tourism Program
Newaygo County
Ava Luchies
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, Fremont High School
Culinary Arts Program
Oakland County
Ashley Lundy
Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, Oxford High School
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Program
Lapeer County
Bailey MacDonough
Lapeer Education and Technology
Public Safety Careers Program
Macomb County
Laura McBride
Center Line High School
Law Enforcement Program
Grand Traverse County
Jayde McCaffrey
Traverse Bay Area ISD Career and Technical Education Center
Culinary Arts Program
Newaygo County
Destiney McGee
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, Grant High School
Automotive Technology Maintenance and Light Repair Program
Lenawee County
Emily Molaro
LISD Tech Center
Mechanical Drafting Program
Saginaw County
Lauren Ostrowski
Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center
Cybersecurity Program
Newaygo County
Kayla Pasch
Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, White Cloud High School
Construction Trades Program
Oakland County
India Pinkel
Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, Lake Orion High School
Mechatronics Program
Mason County
Haley Rasmussen
West Shore ESD
Criminal Justice Program
Wayne County
Lizbeth Rodriguez
Golightly Career & Technical Center
Public Safety/Protective Services Program
Kalamazoo County
Taylor Sexton
Van Buren Technology Center, Mattawan Consolidated School
Advanced Manufacturing Program
Bay County
Christianna Sheldon
Bay-Arenac Career Center, Bay City Central High School
Information & Networking Technologies Program
Hillsdale County
Phoebe Shroats
Hillsdale Area Career Center
Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Program
Ottawa County
Mackenzie Siersma
Careerline Tech Center, Zeeland West High School
Public Safety and Security Services Program
Livingston County
Summer Simet
Livingston Career & Technical Education
Pilot Ground School Program
Oakland County
Brianna Staton-Dauphin
Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest, Milford High school
Machining Program
Macomb County
Antonette Stinson
Lincoln High School
Culinary Arts Program
Oakland County
Aabibsa Thapa
Athens High school
Engineering Design and Applications Program
Bay County
Taylor Thomas
Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center
Building Trades Program
Cheboygan County
Kassidy Tohm
Cheboygan Area High School
Welding Technology Program
Berrien County
Tyra Townsend
Coloma High School
Welding, Machine Tool, and Automotive Program
Cheboygan County
Sara Verville
Cheboygan Area High School
Woodworking Program
Eaton County
Natalie Wallas
Eaton RESA, Grand Ledge High School
Heavy Equipment Diesel Repair Program
Ottawa County
Allison Walters
Careerline Tech Center
Pastry Arts and Baking Program
Alger County
Morgan Webber
Marquette-Alger RESA, Munising High School
Welding Program
Eaton County
Trinity Weeks
Calhoun Area Career Center, Olivet High School
Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Program
Livingston County
Sarah Wenz
Genesee Career Institute, Fenton High School
Automotive Technology Program
Van Buren County
Jessica Whiting
Van Buren Technology Center, Lawton High School
Culinary Arts and Catering Program
Eaton County
Olivia Wilson
Eaton RESA, Grand Ledge High School
Welding Program
Hillsdale County
Kerstin Wilton
Branch Area Careers Center
Collision Repair & Coatings Technologies Program
Wayne County
Carcia Young
Eastpointe High School
Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program
Oakland County
Grace Zalubas
North Farmington High School
Drafting and Design Technology/Architectural Program
