CAREER TECH NEWS

May 2019

Volum e 3, Issue 5

CTE Student of the Month

Bridgman High School

Sam Polym, Our Student of the Month! Submitted by: Laura McGee, CTE Director Bridgman High School would like to recognize Sam Polym as our CTE Student of the Month! He has enrolled in several CTE classes including Engineering, Marketing 1 and 2, along with Business Management. He is an excellent student and a great problem solver. He sets goals for himself and sets the bar high when it comes to work within the classroom. Sam has been a member of DECA for two years and is our vice president this year. He has really used his leadership skills in our organization by encouraging other students and has met many of his goals. He has made it to the DECA international competition two years in a row, which is a big accomplishment! Last year he wrote a 30 page Franchise Business Plan with two other DECA members and they made it to the international competition in Atlanta. This year he competed in the Merit Award Program and made it to international competition in Orlando. Sam is a hard worker, always positive, and open-minded. He is also involved in sports where he is able to utilize his leadership skills. He is captain of the varsity tennis team, a member of Key Club, the Senior Class Vice President, and is a class representative. This year, he participated in the Whirlpool Innovation Challenge and his team made it to the final round of the competition. His team, called Technovation, won the Idea Fair Display. Sam plans to continue his education at Michigan State University to study computer engineering in the fall. We are so proud of our Bridgman Bee, Sam Polym!

Spotlight on CTE Programs

Bringing to light CTE's unique opportunities and activities

Berrien Springs High School

Evidence Collection Day Submitted by: Jennifer Natzel, CTE Director Students from two Berrien Springs CTE programs, Firefighting and Criminal Justice, worked collaboratively to learn about the importance of evidence collection. Students studied the types of evidence to look for, how to properly collect and preserve evidence at a crime scene, how to follow the chain of evidence, and how the evidence will be presented within court.  The students and instructors were assisted by members of the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety.

Buchanan High School

Grant Allows Sports Medicine Program to Purchase Unique Equipment Submitted by: Bob Taylor, CTE Instructor The Buchanan High School Sports Medicine CTE program was the recipient of a Section 61c - Secondary CTE Equipment Grant in December. The grant funds went to purchase a biomechanical analysis system from Vald Performance. At the time, the only other places in the United States that had this system were Harvard University and the Stanford University Human Performance Laboratory. The system features accelerometers and a 3D camera system that utilizes facial and body landmarks to create a 3D model. Various tests can measure joint angles, Newtons of force through joints and can pick up imbalances in the body.  The students in the class were taught how to use the equipment, then tested each other. This taught them a more thorough understanding concerning the physics of posture, movement and how they relate to injuries in athletic activities.

Bridgman High School

Students Compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference Submitted by: Laura McGee, CTE Director DECA is an academic student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in the areas of marketing, finance, hospitality and management. There are chapters in all 50 states, as well as nine other countries. Savanna Tate, Jackson Schmaltz, Connor Blesy, Spencer Noll, Sam Polym, Kaitlin Essig and Reagan Smith competed at the state competition in Detroit in March and earned their way to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, FL April 26-May 1. Sam Polym, Kaitlin Essig and Reagan Smith won in their event, Merit Award Program, where they presented their projects to a panel of judges with a question and answer session afterwards. Congratulations to Sam, Kaitlin and Reagan for bringing home DECA glass! We are so proud of our Bridgman Bees!

Brandywine High School

Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES) Grand Champions Submitted by: Sarah Dye, CTE Director Brandywine students Gaige Nelson and Garrett Lerner were grand champions at the MITES state competition this past week. Gaige has been working on his project in pattern making since spring break. Garrett has been working on his project all year and won $4,000 in scholarship money. Brandywine students earned a total of $18,000 in scholarship money this year from this one competition. Brandywine recognizes the hard work and talent of our students who take part in the MITES competition. We are so proud of them!!

CTE Events

Countywide Events that benefit all of our students

Career Pathway Day

First Annual Career Pathway Day Submitted by: Chris Machiniak, CTE Regional Director Career Pathway Day, hosted at Lake Michigan College’s Hanson Technology Center on February 22, 2019, was designed to help 9th grade students begin to identify their future career choices. The event also helped them determine how to prepare themselves for that career by aligning their high school and post-secondary education curriculum choices. They learned about the employment opportunities within the community that may help them with their future post-secondary training and education. Countywide CTE programming, post-secondary pathways and e mployers were organized into sections based on Michigan’s six Career Pathways: Arts & Communication; Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology; Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Technology; Health Sciences; Human Services; and Natural Resources and Agri-science.

CTE Awards Night

By: Kelly Dargus, CTE Consultant and Chris Machinak, CTE Regional Director May 2nd at The Mendel Center - it was a great night for Berrien County Career and Technical Education students. The school districts honored 63 outstanding CTE students, all of whom received a scholarship from Lake Michigan College, as well as a medal and certificate from their districts. We also recognized nine business partners for their dedication and support of our CTE programs. We recognized six of our 5th Year Early Middle College students from our first cohort, whose program of study were within CTE pathways. Besides honoring students and businesses, district programs also set up displays showcasing student work from this past school year. Local legislators Senator Kim LaSata and Representative Brad Paquette both presented on their experience in education and being supportive of career and technical education in Lansing. Our other speakers for the evening included Sharon Kalling, President of the Berrien RESA Board of Education, Dr. Trevor Kubatzke, President of Lake Michigan College, Dr. Kevin Ivers, Superintendent of Berrien RESA, and Phil Freeman, Superintendent of Lakeshore High School and Chairman of the PA56 Consortium. Overall it was a very special evening that honored our CTE students and program successes.

Countywide Collaboration

Working Together to Increase Student Opportunities

Counseling Corner

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By: Kelly Dargus, CTE Consultant May 14 wraps up our counselor meetings for the 2018-19 school year. Deputy Kelly Laesch shared hot topics and information about the county's crime prevention unit and the services they provide to schools and the community. We were fortunate to have a wide variety of guest speakers attend our meetings this year! Counselors were able to obtain 25 general Committee SCECHs for attending meetings this year. Our goal for next year is to help counselors obtain specific career and college credit requirements as stated in the new counselor renewal law.

5th Year Early/Middle College

By: Melissa Springsteen 5th Year Early/Middle College Consultant

We are excited to share that we have our first graduating class. Congratulations, Class of 2019 - job well done! Forty-one students earned an Associate degree from Lake Michigan College. Contact Melissa Springsteen at (269) 471-7725 Ext. 1304, if you have questions.

Have a suggestion for the CTE Newsletter? Please contact Chris Machiniak .

PA56 Nondiscrimination Statemen t It is the policy of the PA56 Consortium members that no person on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, weight, height, marital status, gender expression, judicial record, disability, and/or any other legally protected characteristic shall be bullied and/or discriminated against. This includes exclusion from participation in, benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any state or federally funded program or activity for which the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency or any member of the PA56 Consortium is responsible, or for which it receives state or federal financial assistance from the Department of Education.  In addition to the above statement, arrangements may be made to ensure that language skills are not a barrier to admission or participation in Career & Technical Education programs within the Berrien County PA56 Consortium.

Berrien Regional Education Service Agency PO Box 364 711 St. Joseph Avenue Berrien Springs, MI 49103-1583 (269) 471-7725 www.berrienresa.org The views and perspectives shared in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency, affiliated schools, staff or board members. To receive this newsletter electronically, please contact [email protected] You may unsubscribe at any time For additional information on Berrien County Career and Technical Education, visit our website at: www.berriencte.org Chris Machiniak CTE Regional Director [email protected] Mona Hunter CTE Assistant [email protected] Kelly Dargus CTE/Perkins Consultant [email protected] Melissa Springsteen 5th Year E/MC Consultant [email protected]