During an April 18 ceremony at Eau Claire High School, Richland One honored 528 high school students who have completed career and technical education (CTE) programs of study within the 16 national career clusters.
To be CTE Completers, students have to earn three or four units of credit (eight units for cosmetology and barbering) in a CTE program, maintain a “C” average or above during Level I and II of the program and any subsequent years, and meet attendance requirements.
Overall and school-level CTE Students of the Year were also recognized during the program. The CTE Student of the Year Award recognizes CTE Completers for their academic, co-curricular and civic accomplishments; highlights the achievements of CTE completers in relation to their completer pathways; and promotes CTE completers as successful and contributing citizens. To be eligible for the CTE Student of the Year Award, students must be accepted to attend a post-secondary institution, enlisted into the military and/or working in a field that reflects the skills gained through their CTE completer program.
Dreher High School senior Benjamin Brown was named the overall CTE Student of the Year. Brown was also recognized as a Quadruple Completer for completing four CTE programs (accounting, banking services, business finance, and general management).
School-level CTE Students of the Year who were finalists for the overall CTE Student of the Year Award were:
•Reginald Craft—Columbia High School
• Marco Nieto Mendoza— Eau Claire High School
•Jordan Nostrant—A.C. Flora High School
•Sophia Britting—Heyward Career and Technology Center
• Dhwani Rupapara—C.A. Johnson High School
• Nar’ jai Livingston—W.J. Keenan High School
•Faith Lester—Lower Richland High School
CTE is designed to prepare students for the workforce, collegiate studies, or military service upon graduation from high school. Many of this year’s CTE Completers earned dual credit for college, received state and national certifications in their fields of study, and gained real-world experiences through apprenticeships, internships, and shadowing opportunities.
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Robert Kirton, a graduate of C.A. Johnson High School and a retired Richland One school and district administrator, which includes serving as director of career and technical education.
For more information about Richland One’s CTE programs, visit www.richlandone.org/CTE.
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