The LaPorte County
Career and Technical Education program at the A.K. Smith Career Center in
Michigan City held its 2022 Awards Program on Thursday, May 5. During the
program, members of the Technical Honor Society received a tassel to be worn at
their high school graduations, and new students were inducted. Several students
were also honored with scholarships and awards.
The purpose of the
Technical Honor Society is to honor students who have shown dedication,
professionalism and the skills necessary to be selected as the best of the best
in their chosen Career and Technical Field. These students demonstrate that
technical education is a viable, practical, and challenging educational path.
The ceremony was led by Director of Career and Technical Education Delincia Smith, who thanked the teachers for their commitment and dedication to their students. “The old adage of ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ is so very true,” she said. “Our students are so fortunate and blessed to have such an outstanding group of collaborative partners who are truly invested in their personal, educational and career success.”
The
following students were inducted into the Society, representing six area high
schools: LaCrosse High School, LaPorte High School, Michigan City High School,
New Prairie High School, South Central High School, and Westville High School.
Programs include Automotive Technology, Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Criminal
Justice, Culinary Arts, Education Professions, EMT, Energy Academy, Fire
Science, Health Science I, Health Science II, Modern Machine Technology, Visual
& Digital Communications, and Welding.
Danielle
Burgess, Joshua Cummings, Bryanna Chambers, Makayla Elkins, Jason Farlie, Danielle
Hagedorn, Sara Emery, Ava Czerniak, Lillian Adrian, Halle Novak, Bianca Robles,
Robert Lanchsweerdt, Tony Juskiewicz, Alex Krzyzak, Emma Lewis, Summer McGee, Alejandro
Mota-Lopez, Kyle Newcomb, Grant Ott-Large, Tatum Raker, Emma Vandercar, Kadrin
Wheeler, Sara Villa, Ella Schable, Jesse Rhoda, Elizabeth Larson, Payton
Wolfenbarger, Esperanza Arteaga, Shakyra Parker, Jason McWhirter, Anastasia
Timm, Samantha Schaffer, Evan Garay, Reyes Steppe, Orion Bennett, Nichole Burke,
William Buskirk, Nolan Jonas,
Hunter DeYoung, Maura Dominguez, Britani Gomez – Ramirez, Andrew Coates, Ty Stacy, Delaney Messer, Ryan Kuizin, Alex Scheuchner, Brenna Woodruff, Ryley Zawada, Taylor Denvit, Seth Palmer, Canyon Richardson, Matthew Spahn, Samantha Wilson, Declan Rice, Abigail Talbot, Quinn Whitaker, and Jack Williams.
Each of the CTE
programs at A. K. Smith also recognized an Outstanding Student of the Year:
Automotive Technology: Ty Stacy
Career Skills: Emily Silverthorn
Construction Technology (A.K. Smith): Delaney Messer
Construction Technology (NPHS): Braxton Binson
Cosmetology: Bianca Robles
Criminal Justice and Law: Emma Vandercar
Culinary Arts: Evan Garay
Education Professions: Samantha Shaffer
EMT: Ryan Kuizin
Energy Academy: Alex Scheuchner
Fire Safety and Rescue: Trent Platz
Health Careers Academy I: Ava Czerniak
Health Careers Academy II: Brenna Woodruff
Modern Machine Technology: Joshua Cummings
Visual & Digital Communication: Hallee Novak
Welding Technology: Isaac Lamar
Each year a student representative from each high school is selected as the Outstanding Student of the Year for La Porte County Career and Technical Education. This year’s recipients were:
LaCrosse High School: Ian Zrodlowski
La Porte High School: Delaney Messer
Michigan City High School: Joshua Cummings
New Buffalo High School: Gabriella Levine
New Prairie High School: Kadrin Wheeler
South Central High School: Evan Garay
Westville High School: Reyes Steppe
Other
students receiving special recognition included:
2021 Jim Wallace Memorial Award – Evan Garay
Brad Cohen Award – Dwayne Eagle
Tej Ram Gupta Scholarship – Delaney Messer, Cheyenne Moreau, and Danielle Burgess
Work Ethic Certificates were awarded to 85 students
