Proclamation honors tech ed programs
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Technical School students flank Maryville Mayor Renee Riedel, center, during a proclamation ceremony Wednesday in celebration of Career and Technical Education Month. Pictured from left: Lindsey Cohen and Chloe Johnson, FBLA; Alexa Francis, Jacob Liles and Blythe Dunlap, FFA; Mayor Renee Riedel; Nathaniel Sims and Tristan Coy, FCCLA; Austin Rickabaugh, SkillsUSA; Allison Stiens, National Technical Honor Society; Remington Long, SkillsUSA; and Payden Dawson, National Technical Honor Society.
It’s almost March, but for the next couple of days at any rate, it’s still Career and Technical Education Month, a fact celebrated Wednesday by Maryville Mayor Renee Riedel, who presented a municipal proclamation celebrating the goals and values of vocational education during brief ceremonies attended by students and staff at Northwest Technical School.
The proclamation read in part: “Career and technical education provides Americans with a school-to-careers connection and is the backbone of a strong, well-educated workforce, which fosters productivity in business and industry and contributes to America’s leadership in the international marketplace.”
NTS Director Jeremy Ingraham said programs at the school are designed to foster that connection through customized training and other initiatives designed to strengthen the flow of graduates into jobs with area employers
Ingraham added that the annual career and technical education emphasis coincides with a portion of spring contest season for NTS organizations like Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Future Business Leaders of America; Skills USA; and FFA.
He noted that NTS SkillsUSA students finished as top-three qualifiers in each program covered during this year’s seven-school district competition.
On other fronts, Ingraham offered a brief summary of projects under way within the school’s various programs:
Building trades: Ingraham said this year’s house build remains on or slightly ahead of schedule, and that students are currently working on drywall and trim staining.
Welding/fabrication: Students attended the district contest in St. Joseph earlier this month and are performing various welding projects for local businesses.
Culinary arts: Students have been working with the Student Council and National Honor Society at Maryville High School to raise money for Special Olympics.
FFA: Eight students have completed paperwork for state degrees, and 20 have applied for efficiency awards.
Childcare: All students have passed first aid and CPR certification tests and will begin worksite experience at the end of this month.
Health science: Staff has been working with local businesses and healthcare providers to provide expanded experience opportunities for students.
Collision repair: Students showcased their 1974 Ford pickup truck and pedal car Feb. 13-15 at the World of Wheels show in Kansas City.
Business: Future Business Leaders of America teams competed Feb. 12 in district contests at Northwest Missouri State University.
A part of the Maryville R-II School District, Northwest Technical School awards successful students with graduation certificates based on both completed coursework and career/technical competencies.
Requirements for graduation include completing a 1,050-hour course of study and demonstrating mastery of entry-level workplace competencies in a given program.
