Students from seven area high schools were recognized during the LaPorte County Career and Technical Education Awards & CTE Honor Society Induction program on May 14. The ceremony took place in the Elston auditorium and recognized students from Lacrosse High School (LCHS), LaPorte High School (LPHS), Michigan City High School (MCHS), New Buffalo High School (NBHS), New Prairie High School (NPHS), South Central High School SCHS and Westville High School (WVHS).
LaPorte County CTE Director Audra Peterson opened the event by thanking the many educators, parents, community leaders and business partners in attendance. She noted that this school year the CTE Program, which is based at the A. K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City, expanded its offerings to include a program in Criminal Justice and Law and a “Jobs for America’s Graduates” program. CTE also entered partnerships with the Indiana Kentucky Carpenters Union for Construction Technology, and with NIPSCO for an Energy Academy that will open next school year.
Guest speakers at the CTE awards and induction event included Ivy Tech Vice Chancellor Rick Soria (on “Excellence”), LaPorte County Adult Education Director Clausell Harding (on “Character”), GAF Plant Manager Denby Snell (on “Technology”), and the Arbors of Michigan City’s Crystal Fields (on “Work Ethic”).
During the program, Peterson recognized students who won honors at the Regional and State level this year. They included Kayla Patrick, Zach Weiss, and Shaylah Barron in JAG and Matt Avery, James Wills, Tyler Bohle, Rane Ponder, and John Sechrist in Welding. In addition, she announced that 15 students successfully passed the state CNA nursing exam: Leanna Arndt, Kari Cox, Brittany Culvahouse, Shelby Gaines, Stephanie Garibay-Villa, Marissa Hill, Arica Howard, Caitlyn King, Katelyn Lee, Carly Mark, Virginia Ramos-Romero, Angela Randon, Tyler Spickard, Fantasia Walker, and Tyra Woodard.
Two special awards were presented:
The Jim Wallace Award recognized the student most exemplifying leadership, guidance to those around them, compassion, and excellence in Culinary Science. It was awarded to Gloria Miller of Michigan City High School. The Brad Cohen Award recognized an outstanding student who has overcome obstacles and gained success. This year’s recipient was Michael Johns of Michigan City High School.
Other awards presented on May 14 included:
Outstanding La Porte County Career and Technical Education Students
- LaCrosse High School: Brooke Goodwin
- La Porte High School: Nick Leffert
- Michigan City High School: Jenna Davis
- New Buffalo High School: Chris Combs
- New Prairie High School: Guy Gainer
- South Central High School: Casey Sausman
- Westville High School: John Sechrist
Students of the Year
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology: Cody Bush
- Automotive Technology: Guy Gainer
- Construction Technology: Jared Koselke, Zach Rasiuk
- Cosmetology: Hannah Combs
- Criminal Justice: Kristy Vanheste
- Early Childhood Education: Michelle Privoznik
- Electronics and Computer Technology: Jenna Davis
- Facility Maintenance: Bradley Kuhnel
- Health Academy I: Shaylah Barron
- Health Academy II: Virginia Ramos-Romero
- JAG: Trent Laughlin
- Welding Technology: Denver Schweitzer
2014 Inductees – Career and Technical Honor Society The Career and Technical Honor Society honors high-achieving students who participate in the study of CTE and who achieve excellence in their chosen discipline.
Advanced Manufacturing Cody Bush, NPHS Joshua McCoy, MCHS
Automotive Technology Vincent Bierl, LPHS Caleb Howard, LCHS Jacob Jobe, NPHS
Construction Technology Michael DeGroote, NPHS Lawton Houser, NPHS Craig Pickett, NPHS Timothy Weaver, NPHS
Cosmetology Kailey Ash, MCHS Hannah Combs, MCHS Michaella Loving, LPHS Eliza Toth, WVHS
Criminal Justice Sam Miller, LPHS Max Swank, NPHS Kristy Vanheste, NPHS
Culinary Arts James Anthony, MCHS Cynthia Gomez, LPHS Kaylee Swartz, LPHS
Early Childhood Education Katelynn Klemp, LCHS Alexis Valles, LPHS
Electronics & Computer Repair Jacob Anderson, MCHS Todd Biller, LPHS Alex Britzke, MCHS Christopher Frederick, WVHS Vanessa Fritz, MCHS D. Joseph LaHaye, MCHS
Facility Maintenance Michael Johns, MCHS
Health Careers I Shaylah Barron, MCHS Tori Clark, SCHS Rhiannon Dusza, MCHS Destinee’ Fields, MCHS Brook King, MCHS Jenna Oviatt, LPHS Kayla Patrick, MCHS Brooke Prast, LPHS Tasia Simmons, MCHS Kirsten Simons, LPHS
Health Careers II Kathleen Brockenshire, MCHS Kari Cox, MCHS Brittany Culvahouse, LPHS Shelby Gaines, LPHS Brianna Glossenger, MCHS Ryan Jones, MCHS JaVarrie Oliver, MCHS Gladys Salgado, MCHS Tyra Woodard, MCHS
Interdisciplinary Cooperative Ed Jalen Smith, MCHS
Welding Tyler Bohle, MCHS Seth Brinsfield, LPHS Ben Deeb, MCHS Justin Fogus, NPHS Nick Leffert, LPHS Rane Ponder, MCHS Denver Schweizer, MCHS Dan Silverman, SCHS Mitch Wolff, SCHS Austin Woodcox, LPHS
The 2014 CTE Honor Society inductees joined the following high-achieving students, who were previously inducted as members:
Advanced Manufacturing Ashton Breitbarth, MCHS
Automotive Technology Guy Gainer, NPHS Nicholas Pirkle, MCHS Derrick Price, LPHS
Construction Technology Matt Blankenship, NPHS Jared Koselke, NPHS Derek Pflughaupt, NPHS Dylan Pflughaupt, NPHS Zachary Rasiuk, NPHS Dustin Schimmel, NPHS Chad Swain, NPHS
Culinary Arts Rachel Marshall, LPHS Casey Sausman, SCHS
Early Childhood Education Michelle Privoznik, MCHS Jessica Reason, WVHS
Electronics & Computer Repair Jenna Davis, MCHS
Health Careers II Leanna Arndt, LPHS Katelyn Lee, SCHS Virginia Ramos, MCHS Tyler Spickard, LPHS
Welding Technology Matt Avery, SCHS Joshua McCoy, MCHS James Wills, SCHS