Jennifer Davis first learned about the impact of technology on society in her eighth-grade technology education class at Woodward High School in Oklahoma. Today, she is a flight test engineer on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter?a plane that is destined to replace the current generation of fighter jets for the United States military.
She credits career and technical education with playing a major role in helping her achieve that success. "Technology education and the Technology Student Association (TSA) definitely paved the way towards a career in engineering," says Davis. "I developed self confidence that helped me through college and still helps me today." She adds, "I also loved the competitive aspects of TSA conferences, my time as a state officer and the friendships I developed."
The Oklahoma CareerTech program has taught thousands of eighth graders such as Davis about how technology affects society, the economy, political decision making and the environment.
TSA state adviser Donavan Bowers notes, "The curriculum capitalizes on the individual's potential for reasoning and problem solving, for imagining and creating, and for construction and thinking critically through the use of tools and material related to technology."
Bowers recognized Davis' ability while working with her in 1995-96 when she was TSA reporter. "I watched her develop into a young woman with many talents," he says. "Jennifer truly excels in her ability for leadership. I noticed that she continually demonstrated a mature attitude toward life as well as a willingness to help other young people achieve their full potential."
Davis graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in aerospace engineering and now works for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas. She was recently recognized as one of Oklahoma's CareerTech Champions. CareerTech Champions are alumni of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology
Education programs or student organizations who have found success in a career and attribute much of that success to their career and technical education.
"CareerTech offers students the opportunity to experience many different careers and options and find their niche," says Davis. She advises students to get the best education possible by exploring career options and taking advantage of any opportunity. "Try everything," she suggests. "What you like may surprise you!"
The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee's National Training Institute will be held in August in Knoxville, Tenn., and it includes a trade show on Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, followed by a week of technical training in the electrical industry. Training is offered in several formats, in 16-, 20- or 36-hour courses.
The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is a member of the ACTE Business-Education Partnership. For more information, visit
www.njatc.org.
The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) will be presenting a teachers' conference in conjunction with GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO, which are being held September 27-29 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The 2003 GASC/GATF Teacher's Conference is presented by GATF and financed by the Graphic Arts Show Company, Inc.
Graphic communications educators from high schools, technical schools, colleges and universities will have the opportunity to learn about current industry trends and see the latest equipment and supplies. Among the topics on this year's agenda are soft proofing, resource updates, PDF workflow, large-format digital printing/proofing and press automation.
According to GATF, approximately 50 grant recipient educators will be chosen; however, the program itself is free for all educators to attend. Applications must be received by July 8, 2003. For more information, or to obtain an application form, contact Sara Hantz, GATF's workshop coordinator at 412-741-6860, extension 113, or by e-mail at shantz@gatf.org. You can also find more information about GATF's educational resources at
www.gain.net.
The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) has revised ARI Standard 470-2002, "Desuperheater/Water Heaters," and ARI Standard 480-2001, "Remote Type Refrigerant-Cooled Liquid Coolers," and both are available for free download at ARI's Web site (
www.ari.org).
ARI is the trade association representing manufacturers of more than 90 percent of North American produced central air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment and a member of the ACTE Business-Education Partnership. By adding free standards on the Internet, ARI manufacturers hope to make it easier for contractors, architects and engineers to make choices based on easily accessed testing and rating information.
For more information about these standards, contact ARI Standards Engineer Michele Darbeau at
mdarbeau@ari.org, or visit
www.ari.org.
Medical, nursing and public health students were among those who participated in events across the country that focused on the plight of the uninsured. Student members and local chapters of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National Student Nurses Association, American Medical Student Association, Association of Academic Health Centers and the Association of Schools of Public Health were among those taking part in activities from coast to coast on March 10-16.
According to the organizers of Cover the Uninsured Week, more than 41 million Americans lack health insurance, and medical research shows that the uninsured often delay medical treatment and preventive screenings because they can't afford them.
The University of Miami, New York Academy of Medicine, University of Southern California, and the Morehouse School of Medicine were among the campuses where events were held.
"We can make real progress in educating millions of Americans about the consequences of being uninsured, and where better to begin than with students," says American Nurses Association President Barbara A. Blakeney. "Students who are about to begin their careers as nurses and physicians are motivated by a desire to do their best to care for people. One obstacle they face is that one in seven Americans have no health coverage, making it difficult to provide them with the very best care we have to offer."
Geraldine Bednash, the executive director of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing notes, "Nurses are committed to creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families where everyone, including the uninsured, receives the quality of care they need and deserve."
Cover the Uninsured Week was sponsored by a number of national organizations, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information, visit
www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.
When a student at Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development felt the need to speak out about career and technical education?and its students?she sent a letter to the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The letter from Hallie Lane was published by the newspaper and prompted Great Oaks President/CEO Dr. Robin White to say, "Hallie is obviously a very courageous young lady who speaks from her heart. We are so proud to serve her and others like her."
Techniques asked permission from Great Oaks to reprint this letter?aptly described by White as "a very powerful statement about the importance of career and technical education"?because one of the most effective voices of advocacy for our field is the voice of the student who is benefiting from career and technical education.
Dear Editor:
I am a 16-year-old Health Technology junior at Diamond Oaks C.D.C. I am a straight A student with a 95 percent attendance rate and I am proud to say that I attend a vocational school.
I'm getting tired of hearing such bad remarks towards students of Career Development Campuses. We are thought of as losers, outcasts and bad eggs. People think we couldn't "cut it" in a "real" school, so we took the "easy way out." We take it to heart every time we are looked down upon.
We are getting a head start in life. We know what we want and we're not waiting to start. We are involved in our community, whether by community service or just by lending a helping hand to a neighbor who knows we can. For example, our Health Technology Lab hosts a blood drive for the Hoxworth Blood Center twice a year. Almost everybody who can, including the students, donates. Our Junior ROTC (in which I am also involved) volunteers to help with meetings at the school, veterans' reunions and parades. The JROTC also helps with the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign.
Just like other students at "regular" schools, we attend competitions that range from local to national. We apply for scholarships. We also have various clubs that we join, such as Business Professionals of America, DECA, FCCLA, FFA and SkillsUSA-VICA.
To those who think we'll never amount to anything, we'll be the ones you come to for help. Five years from now, you'll be coming to us when you have car trouble. It'll be us that you ask when you want a room added to your house or when your house needs rewiring. It'll be us you come to for your weekly manicure. And it will be someone like me that you come to for your health needs.
Everybody has a purpose. No one is useless or worthless. Everyone needs help sometime. When that time comes, you are going to want the person with the most education and experience in the field. That person will be one of us. We are your future. Please have faith in us.
Hallie Lane
Taylor High School/Diamond Oaks
