The Saline County Career Center (SCCC) recently recognized 11 students by awarding them the Career and Technical Education certificate.
According to a press release, in 2016, the Missouri General Assembly passed legislation requiring the State Board of Education and the CTE Advisory Council to establish the requirements for the CTE certificate. The certificate is earned in addition to the student’s graduating high school diploma. This is the second year graduating students were eligible to earn the CTE certificate.
The requirements set forth by the State Board of Education provide students with the necessary technical and employability skills to prepare them for an entry-level career or additional training in a technical field. Students must meet requirements such as maintaining a minimum grade-point average (GPA), completion of an approved Industry Recognized Credential (IRC), completion of a minimum of 50 hours of work-based learning experience, maintaining minimum attendance, achieving certain ACT or SAT scores and demonstrating employability skills.
Brian Wilcoxson, Director of SCCC stated, “The minimum requirements these students must meet in order to be awarded the CTE certificate are rigorous, and must be maintained throughout their high school career. Students achieving this level of performance will make excellent candidates for further education, training or employment.”
The CTE certificate fits into Governor Mike Parson’s workforce development initiative. Governor Parson visited SCCC last year on a tour of Saline County and spoke openly with SCCC students and staff about the importance of job readiness skills and industry workforce needs.
SCCC serves students from four area high schools, including Slater, Sweet Springs, Malta Bend and Marshall. Program areas include Building Trades, Agriculture Education, Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Health Science, Marketing, Information Technology, Teaching Professions and Business Education. Ten students from Marshall and one student from Slater earned the Career and Technical Education Certificate from the area. Receiving the CTE certificate for the class of 2022 are: Maddix Clause, Logan Good, Connor Grossenburg, Karsyn King, Owen Kiso, Paige Klinge, John Miles, Ella Ming – all from Marshall (MOASK Agriculture Skills & Knowledge), Lillian Wade – Marshall (AAFCS Education), Samuel Yung – Marshall (Carpentry Career Connections) and John Henning – Slater (ACF Certified Fundamentals Cook).
“We congratulate these students and acknowledge the hard work and dedication they put forth to achieve this award.” Wilcoxson said.
Pictured from left to right: John Henning, Lillian Wade, Own Kiso, Sam Yung, Maddix Clause, Connor Grossenburg, Karsyn King, Logan Good, Paige Klinge, John Miles, Ella Ming and SCCC Director, Brian Wilcoxson. (Photo courtesy SCCC)