By: Ashley Parker
Yesterday evening, ACTE and NASDCTEc hosted a reception on Capitol Hill highlighting CTE. The theme of the reception was “Beyond the Farm: Integrating Agriculture, STEM and CTE in the 21st Century,” and featured students from Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) demonstrating projects showcasing the intersection of agriculture and STEM. The CTE Congressional Caucus served as honorary host for the event.
Attendees had the opportunity to interact with students and not only learn about the projects, but gain better insight into CTE, the different programs and organizations students can become engaged in through CTE, and the overall impact of CTE on students. One young woman was utilizing skills and knowledge gained through her business coursework and participation in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) to modernize the sales and marketing processes of her family’s sheep farm, including setting up a Facebook page for advertisement and digitizing sheep herding records. She was planning to attend Purdue University in the fall. Another student from Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) showed off her competitive event project, “Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse,” modeled from the Center for Disease Control’s disaster preparedness campaign. Several staff from Congressional members’ offices attended, as well as CTE Congressional Caucus co-chair Rep. Glenn Thompson (D-PA) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who visited with students and spoke with the officers from the various CTSOs present.
ACTE Executive Director Jan Bray and Rep. Glenn Thompson shared remarks with the attendees. Rep. Thompson touted the importance of CTE as a solution to the skills gap crisis and emphasized his continued support for CTE. Jan Bray thanked participants and students for attending and encouraged attendees to interact with the students and learn more about the subjects and skills taught in CTE courses that prepare students for career success in many fields. HOSA, FBLA, National Future Farmers of America (FFA), SkillsUSA and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) were represented at the event by students from Maryland, Iowa, North Carolina, New Jersey and Montana.
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