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Winter Quarterly News Update

Greetings Health Science Education Division Members!

I hope that each of you had a wonderful holiday season and are feeling refreshed and ready to embrace 2025! As we begin the spring semester, the Health Science Education (HSE) Division has much to celebrate, along with exciting updates to share!

ACTE’s VISION Conference Recap

ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2024 in San Antonio, Texas was a tremendous success! I hope that all who attended found the conference enjoyable, had the opportunity to collaborate with other career and technical (CTE) professionals, and took full advantage of the valuable professional development opportunities offered.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, HOSA-Future Health Professionals and the National Healthcare Association. Also thank you to the multiple health science related vendors and to all who presented at sessions during VISION. Your unwavering partnership, support, and dedication to the HSE members are deeply appreciated.

Thank you again to all who attended the HSE Opening Session, the HSE Business Meeting, and to those who contributed to HSE's strategic plan during the HSE networking session! The HSE Strategic Plan will be posted to the ACTE website soon! Your time and efforts are much appreciated!

HSE Division Award and Fellow Recognitions

It was a joy to recognize our HSE Division award winners and HSE’s 2025 New Professional Fellow during the HSE Division Opening Session. Congratulations again to the following:

HSE Award Winners:

• 2024 Teacher of the Year Award: Amanda Longan (Region IV)  
• 2024 Outstanding New Teacher Award: Heather Gamache (Region V)
• 2024 Award of Merit: Holly Strand-Rysgaard (Region III) and Rachel Popham (Region II)
• 2024 Outstanding Career and Technical Educator Award: Rachel Popham (Region II)
• 2024 Outstanding Service Award: Holly Strand-Rysgaard (Region III) and Shylee Endicott (Region III)
• HSE Division’s 2025 New Professional Fellow: Rachel Popham (Region II). Rachel will represent the Health Science Education Division while serving in ACTE’s National Leadership Fellowship Program in 2025. I am looking forward to working with Rachel in the future!

Just a reminder that every year at VISION, the HSE Division honors members of ACTE who have made significant contributions in health science education. Please consider nominating a peer or yourself for an award next fall, 2025!

HSE Division Vice President-Elect Position

The HSE Division is preparing to select its first Division Vice President-Elect! The Division’s Vice President-Elect will serve a one-year shadow term from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, followed by a three-year term as the HSE Vice President beginning July 1, 2027.

Please click here for more information on the position.

The application period is April 1–June 15. The process for nominations, applications, election timeline, and election process can be located on this link: ACTE Board of Directors Elections. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at LaDonna.Selvidge@francistuttle.edu.

HSE Division Scholarship

The HSE Division is sponsoring the Health Science Education Scholarship ($500) for a HOSA member who is a local, regional, state, or national officer of HOSA – Future Health Professionals. The application period is April 1–30. The scholarship winner(s) will be notified on May 15 and recognized at the HOSA – International Conference 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Eligibility and application requirements are available on the ACTE Awards Portal – HSE Scholarship Application. If you cannot log onto the Awards Portal, please contact ACTE’s Member Services at memberservices@acteonline.org. If you have any questions about the scholarship, please contact me at LaDonna.Selvidge@francistuttle.edu.

HOSA – Future Healthcare Professionals Upcoming Conference

The spring semester is filled with the excitement and anticipation of many HOSA State Leadership Conferences and International Leadership Conference – HOSA that will be held from June 18–21, in Nashville, Tennessee! The ACTE Health Science Education Division values its partnership with HOSA – Future Healthcare Professionals. As the HSE Division’s Vice President, I would like to emphasize that participating in your state’s HOSA State Leadership Conference presents students with exceptional opportunities to develop essential leadership skills, connect with peers and industry professionals, and acquire valuable insights into the healthcare industry. HOSA’s competitive events empower students to showcase their talents, compete in various events, build confidence, and engage with like-minded individuals who share their passion for healthcare. Many of you participate in HOSA and know that these prestigious conferences not only enrich students’ educational experiences, but also inspire them to pursue their dreams and make a meaningful impact in their future careers. For more information on the HOSA State Leadership Conference in your state, contact your state’s chartered association using the following link.

Please note the ACTE opportunities below and see where you can contribute! I am excited and looking forward to this semester and what we will accomplish together! Please let me know how I can be of service to you!

Kind regards,

LaDonna Selvidge

VP, ACTE Health Science Education Division

From ACTE

ACTE Announces Board of Directors 2025 Election Results

ACTE recently held its board of directors’ election, which was open to the Association’s membership of approximately 28,000 CTE professionals. We sincerely thank all of the candidates for their dedication and willingness to serve the Association. Congratulations to the newly elected Board members:

• Brandon Russell, President-Elect
• Jonathan Walker, Business Education Division Vice President
• Michael Herrera, Region I Vice President-Elect
• Michael Ogas, Region IV Vice President-Elect
• Robert Torres, President (appointed by the ACTE Board of Directors)
• Lavyne Rada, Agricultural Education Division Vice President (appointed by the ACTE Board of Directors)

Celebrate CTE Month!

Generously sponsored by NAHB

Each year in February, we celebrate professionals like you and educate the public about the importance of career and technical education (CTE). Here are some ways to get involved!

• Share our CTE social media messages by following ACTE @actecareertech and @actecareertech1 on Instagram, and then share your own success stories on social media with #CTEMonth.
• Download graphic resources, including the CTE Month logo, available in English and in Spanish, for use with any of your print and digital outreach.
•  Gear up with festive CTE Month merchandise. 

Submit Your Session Proposals for VISION 2025!

Join your peers at ACTE’s largest annual conference of the year for CTE professionals! ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2025 will take place Dec. 10–13 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. We are seeking session proposals that address high-quality secondary and postsecondary CTE and showcase program innovations, stories of successful collaborations and the most pressing issues facing CTE professionals today. The deadline to submit session proposals is March 15.

Raise Awareness for CTE at NPS 

Join CTE professionals from across the nation to voice your vision on policy and programming. Attend ACTE’s National Policy Seminar (NPS), happening March 16–19 in Arlington, Virginia.  

• Engage on key federal education policy priorities. 
• Influence federal policies related to CTE advocacy and messaging. 
• Participate in Capitol Hill visits. 
• Hear from featured keynote speaker Melanie Zanona, senior congressional reporter for Punchbowl News.

Register by Feb. 16 to secure early bird rates. 

Join Us at Our Annual WBL Conference  

Happening April 2–4 at the Hyatt Bellevue on Seattle’s Eastside in Bellevue, Washington: the ACTE Work-Based Learning (WBL) Conference 2025! ACTE’s fastest growing event offers focused professional development for WBL professionals in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs and institutions.  

Key topics 

• Partnership engagement and relationship management 
• Equitable access to WBL opportunities 
• Compliance with insurance and worker’s compensation-related laws and regulations   
• Internships, job shadows and apprenticeships 
• New and innovative WBL initiatives
• WBL advocacy and learning how to market and grow your program 

CTE Educators: Encourage Your Students to Enter ACTE’s Student Design Contests!

This year, ACTE is delighted to host three student design and video contests:

• CTE Month-NASA HUNCH Student Video Challenge: The theme for this year is “What is Artemis?” Encourage your students to create and submit videos, two minutes or less in length, by April 1.
• Student Merch Design Contest: In honor of ACTE’s 100th anniversary in 2026, we invite students to submit original artwork for a chance to be featured on our official centennial merchandise! Entries are due by May 1.
• Student Trophy Design Contest: Have your students design the 3D-printed trophies for ACTE’s prestigious Excellence Awards. Submissions are due by May 1.

Encourage your students to showcase their creativity and talent in these exciting contests!

Apply for the Achieve 100 Award  

ACTE's Achieve 100 Award is presented to schools and institutions that achieve 100% membership among their CTE staff and faculty. This is a distinguished award that showcases an organization's dedication and commitment to career and technical education. Applications are due Feb. 1.