CareerTech
Student Organizations Spring Forward to Conferences
While most people are gearing up for spring cleaning, Oklahoma students
involved in CareerTech student organizations are preparing for spring
conferences.
More than 73,000 junior and senior high school students and adults are
members of Oklahoma CareerTech’s seven student organizations. Each
organization is an integral part of the CareerTech system supporting
related programs found on high school and technology center campuses
across the state.
Annually, each organization hosts a state spring leadership and skills
conference for students to compete in events, elect state officers and
gain leadership training and networking opportunities. Students put competencies
learned throughout the year to the test, first at the state level, with
state winners proceeding to the national level, according the Oklahoma
CareerTech Director Phil Berkenbile.
“Students who graduate from CareerTech programs are better prepared
for future employment,” Berkenbile said. “They seem to have
a smoother transition from school to career because of the experiences
provided through CareerTech training.”
Business and industry leaders are also a vital part of state conferences.
Professionals often serve as judges or sponsors for competitive events,
as they preview their future workforce.
From Feb. 26 to April 30, hundreds of local chapters will be represented
at state conferences. The seven groups and their conference highlights
include
- DECA, the organization supporting Marketing Education
programs, holds the 65th Annual Career Development Conference on Feb.
26-27. About 1,200 members are expected to attend and will be participating
in 35 competitive events. The first Entrepreneurship Academy will be
a featured event. Oklahoma City University will award scholarships
to the top three winners in each competitive event.
- The Business Professionals of America State Leadership
Conference will host 2,020 students at the Oral Roberts University
and Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee campuses March 11-12. More than
$1 million in scholarships will be awarded from Oklahoma City University
to the top four students placing in each competitive event. BPA is
the organization affiliated with Business and Information Technology
Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences Education students involved
in the student organization Family, Career and Community Leaders
of America travel
to OSU-Stillwater for the 62nd FCCLA competitive events on March 28-29.
The state convention is April 4 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma
City. The conference theme, “Looking for the CelebNU,” focuses
on the special talents of members to help them recognize their own
personal “celebrity” status. Immediately following the
convention members will distribute food that has been collected for
Feed the Children, this year’s FCCLA project.
- The Technology Student Association, associated with
Technology Education, holds its spring conference in Oklahoma City
on April 1-3. The event features keynote speaker Rhett Laubach and
70 competitive events. Approximately 200 chapters will attend the conference,
representing more than 13,000 members.
- Health Careers Education students
who are members of HOSA and
are attending the 33rd Annual State Leadership Conference
on April 9-11 will participate in a blood drive through the Oklahoma
Blood Institute. Five new competitive events have been added to the
roster this year including Biotechnology, Home Health Aide, Public
Service Announcement, Community Emergency Response Team and Forensic
Medicine.
- SkillsUSA will hold its 43rd Annual State
Leadership and Skills Championship at the Tulsa fairgrounds on April
24-26. More than 75 competitive events will feature students applying
the skills learned through Trade and Industrial Education. The diverse
skill area contests range from Crime Scene Investigation and Masonry
to Fantasy Makeup and Computer Repair.
- FFA, the student organization for Agricultural Education
hosts the 82nd State Convention at the Cox Convention Center on April
29-30 in Oklahoma City. The convention highlights HUGSS (Helping Unite
Gold Star Survivors), a service project that supports the families
of fallen military soldiers. During the convention the new Oklahoma
FFA Gear clothing line will be unveiled.
For more information about CareerTech student organizations visit http://okcareertech.org/main/students.htm.
Posted February 19, 2008 |
