Vol. 42, No. 30
April 22, 2008
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Winners Announced for Nontraditional Careers Contest
Six students and two educators are recipients of the 2008 “Breaking Traditions” award for outstanding work in nontraditional career and technical education programs.
The winners were honored April 18 at the Governor’s Mansion. The students will receive scholarship offers from every Missouri community college and Linn State Technical College.
The state program is sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Center for Career Education. The recipients are:
Secondary
- Jamie Cornelius, Hillyard Technical Center, St. Joseph, Agriculture Education
- Victor Gonzalez, Kirksville Area Technical Center, Child Care Aide
Postsecondary
- Deborah Black, St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, Criminal Justice
- James Pelikan, Mineral Area College, Nursing
Daphne Jones Spirit award
- Tiffany Painter, Northland Career Center, Platte City, Computer Maintenance and Networking
- Jeremy Smith, Rolla Technical Center, Practical Nursing
Educators
- Secondary — Regina Gossett, Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, Graphic Communications
- Postsecondary — Eilene Lyons, St. Louis Community College, Biotechnology
Employer
- Ron Lee, Auto Zone, Monett
The Breaking Traditions awards program began in 1994 to recognize students, educators and schools for their achievements in breaking occupational gender barriers. Nontraditional careers are defined as those in which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in that occupation or field.
Students are nominated for the awards by career centers, public two-year colleges and comprehensive high schools. Each school can nominate one student from each nontraditional program. Outstanding educators who are teaching in a nontraditional career program and employers who are supportive of nontraditional students and employees also are recognized.