CareerTech
Student Organizations Gear Up for Conferences
It is that time of year when some 35,400 Oklahoma students involved
in CareerTech student organizations head to spring conferences.
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 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 transition
more smoothly from school to career because of the experiences provided
through CareerTech training.”
More than 72,000 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.
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.
The seven groups and their conference highlights include
- DECA, the organization supporting Marketing Education
programs, holds the 66th Annual Career Development Conference on Feb.
23-24 at Tulsa Southern Hills Marriott. About 1,200 members are expected
to attend and will be participating in 35 competitive events. 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 2,300 students at Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee
campus March 10. More than $1 million in scholarships will be awarded
from Oklahoma City University to the top four students placing in each
competitive event, as well as scholarships from Johnson and Wales University
and the Art Institute of Dallas. BPA is the organization affiliated
with Business and Information Technology Education.
- The Technology Student Association, associated
with Technology Engineering, holds its state conference in Oklahoma
City at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds and Clarion MeridianHotel
and Convention Center on March 31-April 2. The event features keynote
Josh Brecheen and 70 competitive events. Approximately 200 chapters
will attend representing 11,500 members.
- Family and Consumer Sciences
Education students involved in the student organization Family,
Career and Community Leaders of America will “Get wild
about FCCLA” when they
travel to Oklahoma City Cox Convention Center April 3rd for the 63nd
state FCCLA convention. Members will distribute food that has been
collected for Feed the Children and learn how to overcome obstacles
from keynote speaker “Faith the Dog”.
- Health Careers Education
students who are members of HOSA are
attending the Annual State Leadership Conference on
April 8-10 at the Clarion Meridian Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
Two new competitive events this year are Epidemiology and Public Health
Emergency Preparedness.
- FFA, the student organization for Agricultural
Education hosts the 83nd State Convention at the Cox Convention Center
on April 28-29 in Oklahoma City. The first ever state FFA Convention
concert, featuring Stoney LaRue, will be held in conjunction with the
convention to raise funds for the FFA Foundation.
- SkillsUSA will
hold its 44th Annual State Leadership and Skills Championship at the
Tulsa Convention Center on May 3-5. 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 Cosmetology and Computer Repair.
For more information about CareerTech student organizations visit http://www.okcareertech.org/main/students.htm.
UPDATE: See News story on Skills USA here- FOX
23 News
Posted February 18, 2009 |
