Story by Ann Houston

Spring: CareerTech Student Leadership Conference Season

Spring was a very busy season for more than 27,000 attendees of the Oklahoma CareerTech student organizations (CTSOs).

Seven CTSOs, sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, had spring leadership conferences scheduled from February to May.

State CTSO conferences feature competitive events reflective of the learning that’s taken place throughout the year, along with the election of state officers.

“CareerTech has a proud heritage of sponsoring these student organizations associated with the seven occupational program areas in our high schools and technology centers,” said Dr. Phil Berkenbile, CareerTech state director. “These programs and organizations provide thousands of Oklahoma students each year with many of both technical and leadership skills required by today’s workforce.”

Nearly 80,000 students join these seven organizations annually. These organizations afford them the opportunity to participate in both leadership and skill contests at the local, state, and national levels.

The Oklahoma CareerTech system has programs in about 565 middle, junior and senior high schools across the state. Students also attend classes at the state’s 54 technology center campuses.

Business Professionals of America --BPA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with Business and Information Technology Education programs for juniors and seniors in high school and adult students.

More than 2,200 future Oklahoma business leaders participated at the Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference held Feb. 9-10 at OSU-Okmulgee, and Green Country Technology Center campuses and the Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC) in Tulsa.

Students competed in 52 events including categories such as computer network technology, desktop publishing, Website development and PC servicing and troubleshooting.

The 2005-6 BPA Officers are, Codi Carpenter, historian, Sara Potter, secretary, Sarah Balcer, parliamentarian, Heather McIntire, NW regional vice president, Samantha Guynes, SE regional vice president, Kyria Metz, chaplain, Nancy Staudt, NE regional vice president, Dustin Devers, reporter, Kyle Stein, public relations coordinator, Jerry Glendenning, NW regional vice president, and Carl Bell, president.

DECA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with marketing education programs for juniors and seniors in high school.

The 62nd Annual DECA Leadership Development Conference was held Feb. 27-March 1 at Tulsa Southern Hills Marriott. Some 900 junior and senior high school students from across Oklahoma attended the conference. Students competed in 33 competitive events in categories such as sports and entertainment marketing, retail merchandising, travel and tourism marketing and creative marketing research. About 90 business leaders rated competition entries.

The 2005-6 Officers are, Christa Clark, chaplain, Brett Randolph, parliamentarian, Erin Kiss, historian, Nelson Solomon, reporter, Liz Stallings, treasurer, Safiya Lucas, secretary, Cassidy Counce, vice president, and Meredith Inselman, president

Family Career and Community Leaders of America, FCCLA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with the Family and Consumer Sciences Education programs for middle, junior and senior high school students.

More than 8,000 Oklahoma student members and advisors attended the largest one-day FCCLA state convention in the United States held April 8 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Family and Consumer Sciences teaches students skills to function as individuals and family members throughout their life span in managing the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society.

FFA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with Agricultural Education programs for middle, junior and senior high school students.

More than 10,000 Oklahoma FFA members, advisors and supporters representing 356 high school agricultural education programs attended the 79th annual State FFA Convention, April 26-27, at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Some 118 senior Oklahoma FFA members received a total of $138,400 from the 2005 National FFA Foundation Scholarship program. The state FFA convention is the culmination of a year’s activities for FFA members. It is an opportunity for individual awards and recognition, delegate business, officer elections and a celebration of chapter accomplishments. The Oklahoma FFA Foundation has raised $220,000 this year from sponsors who will provide cash awards, scholarships, plaques and host banquets to honor award winners and degree recipients.

2005 officers are; Whitney Danker, president, Travis Schnaithman, secretary, Austin Horn, reporter, Kelli Piquet, northeast district vice president, Jarrod Johnson, northwest district vice president, Dexter Matlock, central district vice president, Dayla Peel, southeast district vice president, and Hannah Gregory, southwest district vice president.

FFA chapters also collected more than 20 tons of food to assist with former FFA member Miss Oklahoma Elizabeth Kinney’s platform of fighting hunger in Oklahoma. Each of the 356 chapters set a goal to donate 100 pounds of nonperishable food for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Health Occupations Students of America, HOSA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with Health Career Education programs for high school and adult students.

More than 2,000 students and educators participated in the HOSA State Leadership Conference April 13-15 held at the Meridian Conference Center in Oklahoma City.

With the health care field currently facing a dire shortage of workers with many nurses and medical workers near retirement age, students attending the conference found information about career opportunities in the health care field. Recruiters from Oklahoma City area hospitals and other health care facilities were also there, offering information about incentives for health careers.

SkillsUSA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with Trade and Industrial Education programs for high school and adult students.

More than 2,000 students joined some 800 instructors and industry leaders for Oklahoma’s 40th Annual SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Championships held May 1-3 at the Tulsa Convention Center, Crown Plaza, Doubletree Downtown, three Tulsa Technology Center campuses and at OSU-Okmulgee.

With the shortages in the skilled workforce looming across Oklahoma and the nation, this state competition attracts the interest and support of business and industry. Industry partners offer scholarships, donate equipment and award prizes for competition winners.

Every year new competitive events are added or expanded to meet the needs of the workforce and are heavily supported by industry. At the national competition students are hired right off the floor as the best in the nation.

Technology Student Association, TSA: The CareerTech student organization affiliated with Technology Education for middle and junior high school students. More than 2,000 middle and junior high school students from across the state attended the annual Oklahoma Technology Student Association (TSA) Leadership and Career Development Conference April 5-7 at the Tulsa Convention Center/Downtown Doubletree At the spring conference, 72 competitive events ranging from computer aided drafting, radio control transportation, aerospace technology, and structural engineering focus on the TSA goals of preparing young Oklahomans to cope with technological changes, to build leadership skills, and explore career choices.

Front Row From left to right: Ashton Pittman, Vice President, Stephanie Day, President, Jessica Bauer, Secretary, Krystin Lovejoy, Reporter Back Row From left to right: Janel Mitchell, Western Region Rep., Tristan Hudson, Eastern Region Rep., Riley Pagett, Treasurer, Shawn Plymesser, Sergeant-At-Arms