Vol. 41, No. 33
April 19, 2007
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Top Students and Teachers Honored for “Nontraditional” Careers
Six students and two educators have been selected recipients of the 2007 “Breaking Traditions” Award for excellence in career and technical education. The winners will be honored at a 1 p.m. awards luncheon Friday (April 20) in the Governor’s Mansion.
The state program recognizes outstanding high school and adult students in technical education programs pursuing nontraditional careers. The program is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Center for Career Education.
The Breaking Traditions winners are:
Secondary:
- Female – Sara Van Jura, Welding Technology, Moberly Area Technical Center
- Male – Jesse Briscoe, Business, Moberly Area Technical Center
- Educator – Linda Unger, CAD Instructor, Excelsior Springs Area Career Center
- Daphna Jones Spirit Award – Debra Ralston, Carpentry, Lamar Area Vo-Tech School
Postsecondary:
- Female – Carrie Statler, Law Enforcement, Mineral Area College
- Male – Lawrence Davis, Jr., Radiologic Technology, Rolla Technical Center
- Educator – Mitchell Walker, Automotive Technology, St. Louis Community College
- Daphna Jones Spirit Award – Melinda King, Electronics Engineering Technology, Linn State Technical College
Careers are considered nontraditional when one gender comprises less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in that occupation or field. Nontraditional students have chosen specific career and technical programs based on their interests and abilities, despite their minority gender status.
The awards program began in 1994 to recognize students, educators and schools for their achievements in breaking occupational gender barriers. Students were nominated for the awards by career centers, public two-year colleges and comprehensive high schools. Each school could nominate one student from each nontraditional program.
Daphna Jones Spirit Award winners are selected from nominees who have overcome extreme obstacles to be successful in their career education programs. Outstanding educators who are teaching in a nontraditional career program also are nominated by their students.
A panel of judges reviewed all nominations and selected the state winners. Individuals receiving the next highest scores in each category were selected as regional winners in the 10 regions of the state. Nancy J. Headrick, assistant commissioner of career education, will present the awards.
For the first time this year, state winners will receive scholarship offers from every Missouri community college and from Linn State Technical College. Scholarship amounts and guidelines vary and are set by each school.
More information about the winners, including photos, is available on the Breaking Traditions Web site at www.breakingtraditionsmissouri.org.