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Congressman Wes Watkins started life with the odds
stacked against him. Born with a speech impediment and coming
from a broken home in a poverty-stricken environment, Watkins
never imagined he would go on to head one of Oklahoma's largest
student organizations and have a successful career in politics.
 He
said FFA, the career and technology student organization associated
with agricultural education, played a large role in transforming
him from a shy youth to a community and state leader.
That is why he is being recognized as a CareerTech champion.
Champions are alumni of the system's programs or student organizations
who attribute much of their success to their CareerTech
experience.
As a child Watkins could not afford to buy and feed the animals
required for many FFA projects. But his agricultural education
instructor, Harold Chitwood at Bennington High School in Bryant
County encouraged him to compete in areas that did not require
much cost such as parliamentary procedure, animal judging and
public speaking.
The FFA public speaking contests helped Watkins overcome his
shyness. That is why he holds the student organization in such
great esteem.
 "There are two things that make goose bumps
go up and down my back; one is the flag, Old Glory, flying over
this nation's capitol when I walk by it at night, and the other
is when I see FFA members in their blue jackets," he said.
"I get an emotional feeling because FFA lifted me out of
the depths of poverty and personal problems to the halls of Congress."
After high school, Watkins received bachelor's
and master's degrees in agricultural education from Oklahoma
State University and was also named state president of the Oklahoma
FFA while in college. He has a great appreciation for career
and technology education and, as a policy maker, he is one of
the Oklahoma CareerTech system's biggest advocates.
"CareerTech helps young people develop a skill or
trade, self-esteem and leadership abilities," said Watkins,
who also has a technology center in Wetumka named after him.
"For adults, CareerTech can offer a wide array of
educational options, including customized training for specific
jobs or industries."
"It is important for young people
to utilize Oklahoma's CareerTech system to obtain the
skills they need for gainful employment and to be productive
members of their community," he said.
Wes and wife Lou |
During his term
in government, Watkins has spent an enormous amount of time and
political capital in support of career and technology education.
One of his most recent achievements was securing about $1 million
in federal funds for the CareerTech Learning Network,
which provides online training and education resources. He was
also instrumental in raising private funds for the Francis Tuttle
Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University. |
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Watkins, who has served in the Oklahoma
Senate and is currently in his 10th term in the U.S. House of
Representatives, has received many awards and accolades for his
dedication to CareerTech education.
He has received the distinguished service
award from the National Association of State Directors for Vocational-Technical
Education Consortium and the National Policy Maker of the Year
Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education
and was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Vo-Tech Hall of Fame.
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Giving an OSU cheer are grandchildren,
L-R, Beth 5, Bradley 8, and Rena 5. |
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