Sarah Draper, a member of FCCLA and a student at Bingham High School, was recently awarded the FCCLA Japanese Exchange Scholarship. She is one of fourteen FCCLA student members in the U.S. to receive this prestigious scholarship, funded by the Kikkoman Corporation and administered by Youth for Understanding USA.

Japanese Exchange is a scholarship opportunity for FCCLA student members to travel to Japan for four-to-six weeks as an exchange student. Sarah will live with a Japanese host family and learn about the culture and traditions of Japan. It will be a summer Sarah will never forget!

Sarah tells UtahCTE.org about her decision to apply for the Japanese Exchange Scholarship and how FCCLA has influenced her life.

“I first heard about the opportunity to become an exchange student from my mom. She went to Japan as an exchange student the summer after her sophomore year of high school through a FHA/Kikkoman scholarship. I have read journal entries from her time in Japan and have seen the souvenirs that she brought home over 25 years ago.

“I was born in Okinawa, Japan while my dad was serving active-duty in the U.S. Air Force; however, we moved back to the states when I was just two years old. I don’t remember a thing [about living in Japan]. Ever since I was young I have wanted to return to Japan, and when my mom told me about her exchange experience I knew this was something I wanted to do!

“In ninth grade I had a history teacher who spent two years in Japan. When he taught the Japanese unit he was so excited. We spent a lot of time learning about the culture, traditions, celebrations, and people of Japan. He showed us pictures of the food they eat and a movie of people being shoved onto trains in the morning rush hour. We learned to write the different Japanese alphabets. During this unit about Japan I began to love their way of life.

“FCCLA teaches that everyone is unique and we need to accept everyone. Going to Japan is a chance for me to immerse myself in another culture and learn to love it and accept their differences. I once heard a quote referring to different cultures around the world, ‘It’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s just different.’ I think this is so true.

“I hope I can take what I have learned in FCCLA, and from other people in my life, and make my time in Japan an incredible experience. Thank you FCCLA for making it possible for me to experience a life-long dream!”

If you’re interested in becoming a member of Utah FCCLA contact the FCCLA adviser in your school.

Nathan Sherman, a student at Timpview High School, shares how completing a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway prepared him for life after high school—college and career.

“I think that the most valuable thing I learned was from my internship. It taught me all about [what] a professional work environment really is [like] and it put me in situations where I was forced to learn and cooperate with different people from different backgrounds in the workplace. It was an awesome experience.”

If you’re interested in participating in an internship talk to the CTE Work-Based Learning coordinator at your school.

Maranda Martinez, a junior at Spanish Fork High School, recently spent one of her class periods participating in an internship at Barrowes Orthodontics in Spanish Fork, Utah. During the internship, Maranda assisted with bonding brackets, learned about slenderizing teeth and teeth numbering systems, learned how teeth move and what affects their growth. Maranda also learned good communication skills and how important it is to treat patients kindly.

Maranda says, “My internship has helped me understand the hard work it will take to become an orthodontist. After being involved in this field I do believe it would be a good career for me. My favorite thing about the internship was working with the people in the office. They were very understanding and helpful. They know how to make working fun!”

If you’re interested in participating in an internship talk to the Work-Based Learning coordinator at your school. To register for a class in the Dental Pathway talk to your school counselor.

On May 1, the National FFA Association announced the 2013 National FFA Scholarship winners. This year, more than $2.1 million was donated by 125 sponsors (businesses and individuals) to fund the National FFA Scholarship Program. The selection committee considered: the applicants involvement in FFA, work experience, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), community service, leadership skills, and academics. This year, FFA awarded 1,645 scholarships to assist students in their post-high school educational endeavors.

Congratulations to the 17 Utah FFA members, from 12 FFA chapters, who were awarded scholarships that ranged from $1,000 and $2,000 each.

FFA is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through Agricultural Education. Utah has over 6,200 FFA members in 77 chapters.

To learn about FFA visit ffa.org or utahffa.org.

Austin Harvey
Occupational Goal: Business Owner

“The Entrepreneurship class I took at my high school has given me a burning desire to go out and start my own business. The CTE classes I have taken during my high school career have helped me decide what I want to do for a career. Ever since I took an Entrepreneurship class I have fallen in love with business.

“CTE courses have helped me tremendously to prepare for life after high school, college, and a career. The business classes really helped me see what it is like working in the real world and what it takes to be successful. The Business Leadership class has helped me so much. It has taught me valuable communication, problem-solving, time management, information management, and managerial skills. This class has shown me how to be a professional employee in a company. Since I have started this class, my grades have gone up in all of my other classes because it has taught me crucial study skills that are needed in college. The CTE classes I have taken in high school have truly helped me more than I ever could have imagined.”

—Austin Harvey, Alta High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Austin on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award he received to Utah Valley University. Austin was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Gaige Trevethick
Occupational Goal: Veterinarian Technician

“It has always been my aspiration to be a veterinarian. Once I discovered there was a veterinary class I could take through Jordan Applied Technology Center (JATC), I was excited and motivated to get there. I studied and made sure to get plenty of rest so that I could pass the acceptance test. The day I received the acceptance letter to JATC for the veterinarian assisting program was, to date, the best day of my life.

“Veterinary Assisting at JATC has prepared me with knowledge of how to ask questions, view the whole picture, work with people, deal with stressful situations in a timely fashion, use outside resources to find the answers I need, be organized, and so much more. This class has taught me how to be responsible for my time, be respectful of other people’s time, and give prompt responses. It also taught me how to lead a team and coordinate schedules. Veterinary Assisting is the first step to my career, my future, my life.”

 —Gaige Trevethick, Jordan High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Gaige on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award she received to Southern Utah University. Gaige was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Left: Blair Carruth, Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Middle: Gaige Trevethick
Right: Jared Haines, Vice President, Utah College of Applied Technology 

Marissa Muhlestein
Occupational Goal: Pastry Chef

“Being involved in Family and Consumer Sciences will enrich my life, because not only am I preparing for a career, I am preparing for my future family. I am going to further my education after high school and study how to become a pastry chef. One day I plan to open my own bakery. By taking culinary classes now, I will take the skills and knowledge of food that I have learned to the next level and become the best pastry chef I can be.

“During my sophomore year in high school I learned about the Family and Consumer Sciences Pathway. I became very interested in the classes and options that were offered and decided that I wanted to study this area in college. In high school I started taking a variety of CTE courses. Each one of these courses has taught me so much and has prepared me for the courses I will be taking in college.”

 —Marissa Muhlestein, Granger High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Marissa on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award she received to Salt Lake Community College. Marissa was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Left: Blair Carruth, Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Middle: Marissa Muhlestein
Right: Jared Haines, Vice President, Utah College of Applied Technology 

Emelyn Nye
Occupational Goal: Registered Nurse (RN)

“As a junior I could apply for one of the Career and Technical Education programs offered off campus. My hope was that I would be accepted into the nurse assistant program my first semester. I wanted to know as soon as possible if I would enjoy the field of nursing as an occupation. I was excited when my class schedule was finalized and I learned I would be in the afternoon class.

“I love my nursing class! Leaving Alta after two periods each day and getting to do hands-on learning at the Canyons Technical Education Center (CTEC) was great. My teacher was so upbeat and positive about the profession. We covered a lot of material in one semester, learned many skills, practiced on each other, and went out to care centers and hospitals, where we assisted nurses on their shifts and helped patients like we were CNAs.

“Due to the CTEC nurse assistant program, I found myself extremely motivated to become a registered nurse. There are so many paths I could take after earning my RN license, and I’m excited to have found my career this early in life. I am so glad I was able to take different CTE courses until I found the one that was right for me.”

 —Emelyn Nye, Alta High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Emelyn on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award she received to Dixie State University. Emelyn was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Left: Blair Carruth, Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Middle: Emelyn Nye
Right: Jared Haines, Vice President, Utah College of Applied Technology 

Austin Smith
Occupational Goal: Future Marketing Director

“I have always been interested in business and marketing. I have learned much from my CTE business classes. The CTE Marketing Pathway gave me the opportunity to learn about a field that I was unfamiliar with. This field intrigued me in many different ways and opened new doors for my educational goals. Marketing taught me the basics in areas such as promotion, marketing, retail, and business ethics. The marketing program was one of the most influential experiences of my high school career.

“My occupational goal is to work up from an intern to an entry-level marketing position, and ultimately be the marketing director for a corporation and lead the marketing department.”

—Austin Smith, Mountain High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Austin on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award he received to Weber State University. Austin was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

 Left: Blair Carruth, Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Middle: Austin Smith
Right: Jared Haines, Vice President, Utah College of Applied Technology 

Abigayle Schofield
Occupational Goal: Graphic Designer

“The career and technical field I have chosen to study is graphic design. I have chosen this career because in it I am able to do things that I love. I love to design, work with people, and also manage things around me. I hope with this degree I will be an asset to a company in helping them advertise their products more efficiently.

“I have taken several design classes at my high school and have learned so much. All of the CTE classes I have taken have benefited me. By the time I graduate from high school this summer I will have 37 college credits completed. This fall I plan on attending UVU to finish my associate degree. After graduation from UVU, I plan on starting a job that I feel with help me achieve my goal of being on the advertising team of a company. I plan on doing what I love in the workforce.”

—Abigayle Schofield, Wasatch High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Abigayle on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award she received to Utah Valley University. Abigayle was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Left: Blair Carruth, Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Middle: Abigayle Schofield
Right: Jared Haines, Vice President, Utah College of Applied Technology