Porter County Career and Technical Education News Vol 19, Issue 14

Career Center Students Top in the State

The Porter County Career Center was well represented by 10 students in the Health Occupations Students of America State Competition this April. Students from 5 area schools competed against other students from across the state in the event, winning college scholarships and earning trips to the National Competition this June in Nashville Tennessee.

Ceara Trcka from Chesterton High School teamed up with Paige Smith from Valparaiso High School to win the Public Health event. The students qualified for Nationals, while each earning scholarships for 3 semesters of full tuition at Ivy Tech College. The girls paired up with Boone Grove High School students Dennis Donahue and Jake Krischke to take second place in the Creative Problem Solving competition and earning a bid to nationals. Dennis placed third in the Extemporaneous Speaking event earning another national bid.

Jake Krischke and Paige Smith placed in the top ten in the state in Extemporaneous Speaking, and Paige was also in the top ten for Nutrition. Morgan Eastridge from Portage High School teamed up with Sawyer Kekelik from Hebron High School to place in the top ten in Emergency Medicine.

Portage High School students Megan Bodo, Taylor Baldwin, Faith Velasquez, and Hope Velasquez also participated in the event which included 700 students from across the state.

Students from left to right.... Paige Smith (VHS), Ceara Trcka (CHS), Sawyer Kekelik (Hebron), Dennis Donahue (BGHS), Jake Krischke (BGHS), Hope Velasquez (PHS), Faith Velasquez (PHS). (Back row) Megan Bodo (PHS), Morgan Eastridge (PHS), and Taylor Baldwin (PHS)

Mr. Truelove’s Chesterton Work Study students are shown above after their end of school banquet. The students gained some valuable workplace skills, solved problems, learned customer service, and earned paychecks while completing their high school diploma. Mr. Truelove is proud of their maturity and workplace skills.

Students Recognized for Perfect Attendance

Video and Animation Showcase

Over 60 students showcased their projects from the CAD & Animation class taught by Bill Guinee and the Video Production class taught by Bob Phelps. The projects included personal profiles, animations, short scenes, and music videos. The event was held in the Valparaiso Ivy Tech Auditorium. Students and families walked a real red carpet as they entered. We awarded the Gabe Myers scholarship to Megan Leetz (Chesterton) and Becca Annen (Valparaiso). Megan will be heading to Columbia College in Chicago and Becca is off to Vincennes.

Carol Costakis is the Community Resource Director for the Porter County Community Foundation. The Foundation has been our largest contributor for our scholarship over the past 6 years. They are not only a supporter of my class, but the county-wide career and technical education effort.

Ms. Sophia Myers is the mother of one of our former students, Gabe Myers, for whom our scholarship is named. Gabe was in our class during the 2010-2011 school year, and passed away on March 1, 2011. His positive attitude had a big effect on the Career Center and our class. He was a good kid with a potential sports broadcasting career in his future. One of the ways we chose to honor Gabe was by renaming our Video Production Scholarship the “Gabe Myers Scholarship”.

The first recipient is Valparaiso High School's Rebecca Annen, a first year member of the class. She’s shown great enthusiasm since day one and is a terrific representative for the Career Center. I am excited that she will be continuing with her video production interests at Vincennes University.

The second recipient is Chesterton High School's Megan Leetz, a second year member of the class. She has made countless contributions to our class, the Career Center, and the community. She is dependable, organized, and passionate. She will be heading on to Columbia College in Chicago.

Here are some links to some videos that premiered Monday night. Feel free to link or embed them:

Kevin Pazour - Porter County Museum Executive Director - http://youtu.be/N9dscVZJNoM

Adam 'Boomer' Nellessen - Personal Profile - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX04ymSmmdM

Surefire Sandwich shop - South Haven Indiana - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mw-wK5zerM

Bring Me the Horizon - Sleepwalking Music Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYplSBXBnjI

2013 Scholarships

Calendar

• Fall County Advisory Committee Meeting, October 17, 3:30-4:30, Porter County Career and Tech Center