Four A. K. Smith alumni were honored on May 19, 2016 at the Northwest Indiana Works Council's "21 Under 21" awards. The program, which honors career and technical education students who are succeeding in college and careers, was held at Ivy Tech's Valparaiso campus. Speakers included Kris Emaus, chair of the Northwest Indiana Works Council, and Indiana Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, who has been appointed Ivy Tech President.

 

The four A. K. Smith alumni honored included:

 

Tyler was a member of the Future Farmers of America for two years where he served as vice president for one year. He was a member of the Envirothon Team for four years, a hands-on environmental problem­-solving competition where they complete training and testing in five natural resource categories. He was a member of the Michigan City High School soccer team for four years, and refereed youth league for five years. He was a student mentor, member of the National Honor Society, and worked for the welding shop, where he was involved in working on the Purdue University Northwest (North Central campus) go-kart in 2014. Tyler placed third in the American Welding Society Mid-West Welding Tournament, Indiana Regional SkillsUSA Welding Competition, and the Indiana State SkillsUSA Welding Competition. He completed an internship at E & L Paving & Construction in La Porte, and currently attends Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.

 

Guy Gainer has been a member of the Future Farmers of America for five years, and a member of 4-H for six years. At AK Smith he served as a student mentor and leader, helping the substitute teacher while the instructor was out. During high school he worked part-time for Advanced Auto while maintaining his grades. He was a member of the Technical Honor Society for two years and was awarded the Kenneth Patterson Scholarship. Guy took dual credit classes through high school. He was sponsored by the Knox John Deere to get into the Vincennes University's John Deere Agricultural Technology program. While at Vincennes, he has been working part-time for GreenMark Equipment. Guy graduated with his Associate's degree this spring, and continues to work for GreenMark Equipment where he will be able to apply his education and knowledge to the mechanics of John Deere equipment.

 

Ryan started off as a student at A.K. Smith who was unsure of his direction for the future, but after a few months of being in the culinary program, he discovered his future would be in the culinary arts. He became ServSafe certified through A.K. Smith and volunteered for several activities at A.K. Smith -- many that included catering. Ryan was always willing to go the extra mile, being the first to arrive, the last to leave, and even donating his Saturdays on several occasions. In addition to being in the CTE Technical Honor Society, he was Culinary Student of the Semester and Year. Ryan now attends Sullivan University and moves around to different types of restaurants to build his culinary arts skill set and palate.

 

Marcus' strong work ethic has taken him down a successful path. He was a student at A.K. Smith Career Center in the Automotive program who served as one of two student mentors  and became a member of the Technical Honor Society. Marcus was not a strong textbook  person at first, but he endured and worked so hard that he was able to earn a scholarship to Lincoln College of Technology of Indianapolis. He received a degree in Diesel Technology. Since his graduation, he has secured  employment with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) as a Diesel Technician.