FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2006

CONTACT: Megan Reiter (703) 683-9312; mreiter@acteonline.org

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces that Meicheng Shi of San Jose, California and Ginne Catherine Bushong of Tucson, Arizona have been selected as the winners of the 2006 Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest.

The essay contest was developed in the memory of former ACTE Senior Director of Communications, Cliff Weiss (1951-2004).  Cliff Weiss had a passion for career and technical education, which he showcased through his writing.  The purpose of this contest is to recognize career and technical education (CTE) students who share the same passion and talents. 

Students enrolled in both secondary and postsecondary CTE courses were asked, “How would you explain the value of career and technical education to a new student?” A winner from the secondary and postsecondary category was selected from hundreds of entries by a panel of judges.   

Shi, a student at Lynbrook High School, was selected for her essay in the secondary category while Bushong, a student at The University of Arizona, was selected for her essay in the postsecondary category. Both winners will each receive an award of $250 in addition to having their essay published in the April edition of ACTE’s Techniques Magazine and on the ACTE Web site.

For information regarding the Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay contest, visit ACTE’s web site at http://www.acteonline.org/about/awards/CWMEC/index.cfm.

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national professional association for the field of career and technical education.  ACTE’s membership numbers more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.

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