FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008 | CONTACT: Sabrina Kidwai
(703) 683-9312; skidwai@acteonline.org |
ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) today awarded WRAL News Anchor and Reporter Ken Smith with the Image Award, which recognizes a well-known individual who has brought positive attention to the career and technical education field. Smith is the inaugural recipient of the award.
For the last eight years, Smith has been a business volunteer for the School-to-Career (STC) Initiative in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in North Carolina. The mission of STC is to prepare every student to make knowledgeable career choices through academic rigor and work-based learning experiences. Smith is a member of WCPSS Business Alliance Program, a component of STC, which is the school-based volunteer program working with each middle and high school to provide collaborative activities that underscore the value of education and the relationship between education and career opportunities.
Smith’s career volunteerism activities include: serving as the chair for the Sanderson High School Business Alliance for several years, participating yearly in both school-based and county-wide career fairs, organizing station tours for students interested in the commercial arts/media industry, creating job shadowing experiences, evaluating practice interview sessions, and being a classroom speaker.
“Smith’s dedication to CTE is illustrated through his continued work with STC and the WCPSS Business Alliance Initiative,” Executive Director Jan Bray said. “He provides students with advice on career exploration and encourages them to succeed inside and outside of the classroom. His commitment to the Raleigh community is inspiring, and ACTE wants to recognize him for his efforts. ”
Smith has reported a variety of stories during his 20 years of experience around the United States and the Virgin Islands. While working in Georgia, Smith won two Georgia Associated Press awards for best spot news and best feature. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida.
Image Award recipients must be widely recognized persons—such as entertainment, sports or business celebrities, who have demonstrated by their actions and/or statements that they are supporters of career and technical education. Nominations are accepted from ACTE members, and the winner(s) are chosen by the ACTE Executive Committee. For more information on the Image award, please visit http://www.acteonline.org/about/awards/awards-ia.cfm.
The Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. It provides advocacy, public awareness and access to information, professional development and tools that enable members to be successful and effective leaders. Founded in 1926, ACTE has more than 29,000 members including teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.
###
