On Thursday, May 2, 2013 ten Utah high school teams will compete in the Ford/AAA Auto Skills competition at Salt Lake Community College. Each team will be tested on their ability to trouble-shoot, correctly diagnose, and repair an intentionally bugged vehicle. This hands-on competition not only tests the students’ automotive knowledge and problem solving skills, but also tests their ability to work under pressure as they race against the clock to complete the assigned task in 90 minutes.

The schools participating in the Ford/AAA Auto Skills competition are:

High School: Clearfield
Teacher: Ed Schirner
Student Team: Dakota Sexson, Parker Fisher

High School: Davis
Teacher: Tom Housley
Student Team: Cameron Ramage, Zachary Delbo

High School: Fremont
Teacher: Arne Erisoty
Student Team: Dallin Krebs, Richard Nielson

High School: Hillcrest
Teacher: Jeff Murri
Student Team: Peter Jorgensen, David Blanski

High School: Northridge
Teacher: Rodney Stevenson
Student Team: Jensson Ostler, Daryl Smith

High School: Provo
Teacher: Seth McVea
Student Team: Parker Thomas, Jimmy Hicken

High School: Riverton
Teacher: Jay Hales
Student Team: Hayden Haslam, Caden Knight

High School: Timpview
Teacher: Rich Lamb
Student Team: Jacob Lamb, Letalanoama Storey

High School: USU Eastern
Teacher: Richard Dye
Student Team: Devin Huff, Phillip Raich

High School: Woods Cross
Teacher: Evan Kirk
Student Team: Steven Allcott, Taylor Wise

The Ford/AAA Auto Skills competition is a national competition for high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career as an automotive service technician. The winning team will advance to the National Ford/AAA Auto Skills competition to be held June 9-12, 2013 at Ford Motor Company Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. 

By Mary Shumway
State Director of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
Utah State Office of Education

Last year, at the Utah Education Summit, Governor Herbert announced his plan to ensure Utah is “on pace” to have 66 percent of the adult population earn a post-secondary degree or certification by the year 2020. The plan is called “On PACE to 66% by 2020.”

At the summit, Governor Herbert stated, “As we compete in what is now a global economy, education will be the key and the catalyst that sets Utah apart. An education system that aligns perfectly with the needs of the marketplace will do wonders in spurring economic growth and innovation. This is the focus of my plan for 66 percent by 2020, and we are on pace to achieve it.”

PACE stands for:
P — Prepare Young Learners
A — Access for All Students
C — Complete Certificates and Degrees
E — Economic Success

Incorporated within the plan is recognition that Career and Technical Education (CTE) is one solution to meeting the needs of Utah’s workforce. The plan is guiding the work of the state legislature, the Utah State Board of Education, the Utah College of Applied Technology, and the Utah Board of Regents. Some details of the plan that involve CTE are highlighted below:

• Help students become college and career ready while they are young through career exploration, assistance from school counselors, and taking college readiness exams.
• Help students transition to post-secondary education by including concurrent enrollment in CTE courses and distributing information on women in nontraditional careers.
• Help students finish degrees and certificates,with emphasis on CTE certificates and associate degrees. The breakdown of the 66 percent is as follows:
  • 13 percent of Utahns with a certificate in an approved CTE certificate area.
  • 14 percent of Utahns with an associate degree, with the majority in CTE fields.
  • 28 percent of Utahns with a bachelor’s degree.
  • 11 percent of Utahns with a graduate degree.
• Help students find work in their chosen fields or personal pursuits, with 90 percent of employer workforce needs met, including strong ties between CTE programs and economic needs.

It is an exciting time to be in Career and Technical Education, and to be part of the attainment of Utah’s educational and economic goals.

For more information on the Governor’s plan and priorities for education, visit http://www.utah.gov/governor/priorities/education.html.

A summer job is the ideal opportunity to apply the technical skills you’ve been learning through Career and Technical Education, but also to learn those critical “soft skills” that you may have heard about. Here are six tips to get you started.

1. Check with your school counselor for job search assistance – like résumé writing help, letters of reference, and even local job listings.
2. Tell everyone you know that you’re looking for a summer job! Tell all your friends and their parents, and have your parents tell their friends. This is called “networking,” and if you are specific (and honest) about the kind of job you’re looking for and the skills you have to offer, you’ll have a whole army of people promoting you with potential employers.
3. Be easy to find. Your “army” needs to be able to contact you in at least a couple of ways – phone, email, social media; keep in touch.
4. In addition to looking at job listings online and in newspapers, start walking! Looking around as you walk through your neighborhood, the mall, sports arenas, parks and restaurants – and go ahead and submit an application in person, if you can.
5. Whether you have a formal interview or simply have a conversation with the person who is hiring, make sure you appear neat and clean, and are ready with clear and concise answers about why you’ll make a good employee.
6. Say thank you. Say it to everyone who is helping you look for a job, and be sure to put it in writing after a job interview.

One last tip; if you don’t find a paying job, consider an unpaid internship or volunteer position – especially if you can find something that is related to your career interests. Paid or unpaid, working gives you an edge today and in the future!

For more information on what Utah employers want, visit: http://www.schools.utah.gov/cte/documents/pathways/WhatUtahEmployersWant.pdf.

BRADEN EICHMEIER, senior at Bonneville High School in Weber School District.

CTE Pathway: Braden is currently enrolled in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Pre-Engineering Program. He has participated in this pathway of pre-engineering studies for the past four years, taking five of the seven courses available.

Senior Project: Braden placed second at the Autoliv senior research project on airbag devices.

Sports Enthusiast: Braden is a member of the swim team at Bonneville High School.

Study Habits: Braden received a composite score of 31 on the ACT. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA he participates on the schools swim team. His past experience in many Advanced Placement courses in chemistry, calculus and English literature have given Braden an insight into hard work and meeting deadlines.

“Achieving Bonneville High’s nomination as their Mathematics Sterling Scholar Award winner for the academic year 2012-2013 is proof of his diligence and dedication to completing a very difficult pathway, and one that can assist his studies in engineering in the future,” says Glenn Prisk, CTE Coordinator over the Project Lead the Way Program.

Soft Skills: “Braden is personable, a great team leader, self-assured (not arrogant but confident) and just a great asset to have in class,” says his PLTW instructors.

Future: Braden has the technical understanding for a career in a wide-range of engineering fields. He has investigated digital electronics, engineering design, computer driven manufacturing systems, and drafting software in Inventor programs. He has accepted a scholarship to Utah State University.

Testimonial: “Reflecting back on my personal changes that came as a result of schooling, I used to try to hasten the result, finding the quickest way to solve issues. I found that with my involvement in PLTW, and even other AP courses that I have taken, the method I take now has distinctly changed in regards to problems, research, and concepts taught in classes that I experience. I am much more detailed. I look for situations of cause and effect, and I would admit that I am much more detailed about my work. My thought processes have changed. With academics playing such a big role in my life, and now with swimming,  I find that it is a balancing act and I must prioritize my time and studies. I am very goal oriented and I am excited about the opportunities and options I have living in Utah. Things are good for me!”

By Monica Giffing
Agricultural Education teacher and FFA Advisor,
Springville High School

There are many reason that I love my job, but today especially! It is so amazing to see students learn and grow and truly use what we teach them and what FFA and the Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) teaches them. 

Today, one of our lambs at the school lab got a very deep cut on its head, what a joy it was to watch Ashly Endicott (the Utah FFA Vet Science Proficiency Winner) use the skills she learned at the Rocky Mountain Vet Clinic as her SAE to assist this lamb. The other students, Christina, Aubrey, and Wesley, were great help when most kids would run the other way!

I am humbled that I get to work in such a profession that it brings me to tears when I see what some might see as a little thing (or a gross thing) I see as an amazing opportunity. I am truly doing what I love and loving what I do!

By Luke Searle
FBLA State President and student at Wasatch High School

Utah’s FBLA State Leadership Conference and Competition was held March 5-7, 2013 at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. Over 1,600 members from throughout the state met to compete in over 70 events! It was an exciting competition for all those involved.

At the conference, students competed for a chance to advance to Nationals, which is being held in Anaheim, California at the end of June. New state officers were also elected for the 2013-2014 year. I was lucky enough to be elected as Utah’s State FBLA President, and I look forward to working with my state officer team to make it a great year.

It was a tough competition, but in the end, the top five schools that had the most students place in events were:
1st Place: Wasatch High School
2nd Place: Hillcrest High School
3rd Place: Taylorsville High School
4th Place: Box Elder High School
5th Place: Davis High School

Congratulations to those schools!

We hope to see you all in the fall when Utah hosts the FBLA National Fall Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

By Carley Herrick
Utah DECA State President

This March Utah DECA hosted its annual State Career Development Conference at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. Over 1,100 students and advisors attended this two day event, displaying their skills in the areas of entrepreneurship, finance, management, and hospitality as they competed in both role play and written plan events. During the first day students competed in preliminary role-play events where they had a chance to think on their feet as they had ten minutes to solve a problem and present their solutions to a judge. Students also took a coordinating exam that tested their knowledge in their chosen event.

The second day of the conference kicked off with the Preliminary Awards Session where the top twenty were announced in each role-play category. Throughout the rest of the day students competed in final role-play competitions and also had the opportunity to compete in written event competitions. These written events are composed of 11 to 35 page business plans that must be completed one week prior to the Conference. Judges then reviewed the plans and listened to students’ presentations. Students who did not compete during the second day had the opportunity to visit the conference exhibits where they met with college representatives, state officer candidates, and local businesses.

The conference finished with the Grand Awards Session where the top ten finalists and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were announced and received awards on stage. On April 23-28, 2013, these finalists will join 16,000 other students in Anaheim California to compete in the DECA International Career Development Conference. During the Grand Awards, the 2013-2014 Utah DECA State Officer Team and President were announced and several DECA chapter advisors were recognized for their dedicated service and contributions to marketing education and Utah DECA .

The 2013 Utah DECA State Conference was a great success thanks to lots of hard work and preparation from students, advisors, volunteers, and educational directors. Thank you for your continued support and best of luck to our national qualifiers!

ETHAN I. LEEDS, senior at Weber High School in Weber School District.

CTE Pathway: Ethan is currently enrolled in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Pre-Engineering Program. He has participated in this pathway of pre-engineering studies for the past four years, taking five of the seven courses available.

Senior Project: Ethan completed the senior research project for Autoliv on airbag devices.

Sports Enthusiast: Ethan is an avid runner who views his efforts in this lifetime sport as a challenge to understanding the limits on his own personal growth.

Study Habits: Ethan is an outstanding student who attacks his studies in much the same manner as he attacks running. He has proven it with his 3.99 GPA and with an outstanding score of 35 on the math comprehension part of the ACT. These academic achievements have given Ethan the confidence to strive for a career in engineering.

Soft Skills: Ethan is self-driven, polite, confident, and a very detailed worker. He likes and looks forward to a challenge. His classmates and teachers all describe Ethan as “a joy to work.”

Future: Ethan has submitted his candidacy for the NAVAL ROTC scholarship program. Selections will be made in April 2013.

Testimonial: “My involvement in PLTW has really clarified my educational pursuits. Coming into the program, like most kids, I had no plan for a career or a pathway of study to guide me. Being involved allowed me first to become aware of options, and secondly to identify classes and subjects that I should be familiar with in order to pursue those subjects I enjoy. Obviously, my dream is now at hand, with the NAVAL ROTC Contract of Commitment signed, and my placement within the nuclear engineering field of study I have found the field of engineering that I most likely will complete. Working with class mentors associated with Autoliv, teachers, and businesses has allowed me to develop a conversation about the education and training involved that I must master in order to reach my goals. I have the brightest future possible due to my schooling and PLTW!”

By Hailee Anderson,
Student, West Jordan Middle School

Mr. Flores (also known as Mr. Flowers) was a well-loved teacher. He was a Career and Technical Education teacher at West Jordan Middle School who recently died of cancer. The entire staff and every student – not just the ones in his classes – were very upset about it. We will miss him so much!

My favorite thing about Mr. Flores was his smile. His smile could brighten anyone’s day. He also had a great attitude about teaching. Most teachers just want you to learn stuff, but Mr. Flores would put a twist on every assignment to make it more fun and interesting. He loved his students and wanted them to succeed in their learning. He would encourage us to do our best in everything, and did it with a smile, patience and kindness. I never heard him raise his voice to any student.

I learned a lot from Mr. Flores. We created PowerPoint presentations, we learned the parts of a computer, and we learned how to properly type on the keyboard. Mr. Flores made sure that every student did their best and learned new skills. We had a lot of fun with the assignments. For example, we created PowerPoint presentations on various types of fruit. When it was our turn to present, we brought samples of the fruit for everyone. He always thought of ways to have fun but still get things done. 

Probably the most important things I learned from Mr. Flores were patience, kindness, and a love for learning.

West Jordan Middle School students wanted to create something to show their appreciation for Mr. Flores so they wore purple, red and pink and the entire student body formed a huge heart on a field outside the school. LifeTouch took this photograph from high up on a crane to give to his family. You can view the Fox13 story on Mr. Flores here.

Michael Hancock attended Fremont High School where he participated in football, was a member of HOSA, and was involved in Career and Technical Education (CTE). Michael will graduate in May of 2014 from Weber State University with a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. He plans to continue working for MountainStar Healthcare where he aspires to become a hospital administrator.

Question: Michael, what sparked your interest in pursuing a career in healthcare?
Answer: I have always had an interest in healthy living and the improvement of the human condition. Being able to help improve individual’s well-being and make them happier, more active people is the ultimate pay off.

Question: In high school was there a specific class that solidified your interest in pursuing a healthcare occupation?
Answer: The introduction to Exercise Science course, taught by Blair Powell, was the course that sparked my interest in working in the health sciences. Mr. Powell was very influential to my pursuit of my career path and helped me realize various health professions in the field.

Question: How did your involvement in HOSA enhance your high school experience?
Answer: Being involved in HOSA helped me better understand what I would like my career path to be. It helped me realize that there are opportunities in healthcare besides being a clinician or hands on caregiver.

Question: How did your involvement in a CTE Health Science Education Pathway give you a competitive edge or jump-start your postsecondary education?
Answer: It helped me avoid wasting time during my first couple years of college trying to figure out what I would declare as my major. While my peers were trying to figure this out, I had an understanding of the degree I wanted to purse.

Question: What made you interested in pursuing a career in hospital administration?
Answer: Influential mentors helped me see my strengths and realize that this was something that I should pursue.

Question: What advice would you give to students considering a career in healthcare?
Answer: If you think that to work in healthcare you have to be a doctor, nurse, or therapist, think again. There is a business aspect to healthcare and opportunities as a Personnel Manager, IT Specialist, or a Human Resource Director are available if you are willing to work hard to obtain those positions.

Question: What would you say to students thinking about joining HOSA?
Answer: Be involved and join! There is nothing to lose; worst case scenario is that you can come to understand you aren’t interested in a health profession. It is better to discover that in high school than in college when you have spent thousands of dollars on health profession courses.

Question: How did your participation in CTE prepare you for the occupation you are now pursuing in hospital administration?
Answer: My CTE participation indirectly made me aware of my interest in facilitating human well-being. Even though I am not a caregiver, I have the opportunity to manage caregivers and motivate them to provide the type of care they would want their closest loved ones to receive.