Coosa County Career Tech Center holds first annual awards luncheon
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Coosa County Career Tech Center (CCCTC) held its first awards program since the center reopened in August, and it was a huge success thanks to our senior Career Technical Education (CTE) students and area business and organization leaders. Assistant Principal Russaw welcomed and blessed the meal, which was graciously provided by Madix and prepared by Triple R Café, before introducing the Director of the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship Josh Laney.
Mr. Laney addressed the crowd on the importance of career technical education and its impact on the state of Alabama’s economy and workforce, and more importantly its ability to provide skills training for students which can ultimately lead to high-demand, high-wage, life-supporting jobs in any career field. He reminded students that participation in student organizations and competitions that are associated with the CTE programs are excellent ways to develop the basic employability skills including communication, collaboration and character while gaining relevant job experience and networking connections. In addition, he asked students to keep in mind that continued education and skills training can take place on the job as long as students meet the basic employer needs of 1.) Arriving ON TIME, 2.) Passing a drug screen, 3.) Working well with others, 4.) Putting away the cell phone, and 5.) Showing up EVERY DAY, and that employers would invest in them and promote them if they would do these things.
Laney also stressed to students that it is important to practice gratitude for what they have. That many people from various roles, especially parents and family members, as well as faculty and staff, the business leaders that were present for the awards event, and many others from the community that have been a part of their lives have poured a great deal of time, effort and support into them becoming graduates and that there would be many others to continue to mentor and support them throughout their lives, but that it is always important to remember to be thankful for these supporters and their contributions and to be sure to show this gratitude by helping others when they are in a position to do so as they become the adults and leaders in the Coosa County community.
Following the keynote; family and consumer science teacher, Dianne Mack; recognized students from her Education and Training/Child Development Program pathway who had completed a sequence of three or more classes in the pathway. She also recognized Ry Gilbert for becoming a certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation provider. Bruce Dansby then awarded a certificate of attendance to seniors in the TDL Automotive Services program and gave special honors to Nathan Mathis and Emily Thomas for having the highest average in their respective classes.
Coach Brett Thomas, business information technology teacher, then gave completer certificates to his seniors who have completed three or more classes, served as an FBLA officer and awarded credentials to students who passed the Microsoft Office Certification exams.
Finally, Mrs. Phillips, the JAG Program teacher, awarded senior JAG members for completing the hours that are required for recognition, competed in district, state and national competition events, and served as JAG Chapter officers. (Pictures of these awards are provided, and captions include student names.)
The highlight of the awards luncheon followed with Madix, Prime Management Healthcare, Russell Medical Center, and Auburn University offering jobs or work-based learning opportunities such as apprenticeships and internships to several of our juniors and seniors. Madix started by offering jobs or apprenticeship offers to nine students, including: Heath Joiner, Cornelious Braswell, Tyreek Epps, Mariah Corbin, Aalyiah Murray, Quintarious Gilbert, Devin Sweet, Connor Mitchell (not pictured), and Keland Edwards.
Prime Management followed with job offers for eight students that will be placed across three of their locations and filling roles from housekeeping to providing patient care as a CNA and beyond for those who wish to take advantage of Prime’s tuition assistance and scholarship programs. Students being offered positions with Prime Management include: Madison Jennings, Brooklyn Lee, Alissa Cosby, Kristasia Harkins, Aaliyiah Murray, Abigail Veitch, Kamilya Canada, and Chacara Long.
Russell Medical Center’s Eric Miller announced that Chacara Long, Abigail Veitch and Aaliyah Murray would have pending job offers upon receipt of their high school transcripts documenting graduation. Finally, Auburn University made an offer to Kali Snell for the summer work program that receives applications from juniors and seniors from all over the state of Alabama. Participation in the program allows students to work at the university over the summer and upon good performance are offered opportunities to return the following summer after graduation and continued employment as an AU student if he/she chooses to enroll at Auburn. Full-time benefits for these employees apply, including being eligible for reduced tuition rates and employee scholarships, as well as work schedules that flex around class schedules.
The final award of the day was given by CTE Director Hester Hamby for the “Outstanding CTE Senior Student” to Aaliyah Murray. Hamby stated that as those in attendance had witnessed, Aaliyah has done what could be the most important thing in preparing for her future by taking advantage of every opportunity that was offered to her throughout the year and being willing to gather information and consider all possibilities that had been presented to her. Hamby also shared some final thoughts with the audience as she recognized members of the advisory boards, Career Coach Mrs. Garrett, CTE teachers, and Central Coosa administrators: Principal Brandi Lee and Superintendent David Stover for all of their support during the year. She expressed pride in what the center and especially the students have been able to accomplish in this first year of CCCTC being reopened and hopes for additional partnerships and opportunities as the center continues to grow and progress in its program offerings and community presence.
