CTE Students Honored
Career and Technical Education Students Honored
The LaPorte County Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at the A.K. Smith Career Center in
Michigan City held its 2019 Awards Program on Thursday, May 2 at the Holdcraft Performing Arts
Center in Michigan City. During the program, returning members of the Technical Honor Society
received cords 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 CTE field.
These students demonstrate that technical education is a viable, practical, and challenging educational
path.
The ceremony, led by Director of Career and Technical Education Audra Peterson, featured Life Care
Center Staff Educator Jackie Nelson, who spoke on each pillar of the Society: Excellence, Character,
Technology and Work Ethic.
The following students were inducted into the Society, representing seven area high schools. The
schools include LaCrosse High School (LCHS), LaPorte High School (LPHS), Michigan City High
School (MCHS), New Buffalo High School (NBHS), New Prairie High School (NPHS), South Central
High School (SCHS), and Westville High School (WVHS).
Automotive Technology
Timothy Saylor (MCHS)
Miranda Braniger (MCAS)
Construction Technology (AKS)
Alec Adrian (MCHS)
Timothy Slagle (MCHS)
Construction Technology (NPHS)
Jacob Dockery (NPHS)
Hayden Downs (NPHS)
Tyler Graeber (NPHS)
Gavin Kelly (NPHS)
Ian Toth (NPHS)
Cosmetology
Amanda Kuzmin (MCHS)
Mackenzie Nehl (LPHS)
Criminal Justice
Serena Cuevas (NPHS)
Layla Crawford (SCHS
Koryn Hollongshead (MCHS)
Lauren Summa (MCHS)
Culinary Arts
Diamond Jimerson (MCHS)
Anna Salisbury (SCHS)
Education Professions
Jory Bales (LPHS)
Sydney Bearickx (LPHS)
Missy Bucher (LCHS)
Brikea Sherrod (MCHS)
Zoe Spence (NPHS)
Hannah Pittman (NPHS)
EMT
Owen Barsic (LPHS)
Energy Academy
Justin Downs (LPHS)
Fire Science
Alec Marter (MCHS)
Health Careers Academy I
Eva Barron (NPHS)
Jacqueline Martinez (LPHS)
Aaliyah McGill (MCHS)
Haley Sikora (SCHS)
Andrea Zaknoun (MCHS)
Zoie Zaknoun (MCHS)
Health Careers Academy II
Stephanie Lewis (MCHS)
Alyvia Messer (LPHS)
Welding
Kaitlyn Biela (NBHS)
Michelle Kazmierzak (NPHS)
Drake Kluge (NPHS)
Allen Metts (LCHS)
The students listed above joined the following returning Technical Honor Society members:
Julian Luna (LPHS), Blake Sorenson (LPHS), Eliot Rotering (NPHS), Margaret Bibb (MCHS), Troy
Powell (MCHS), Ryne Stormer (MCHS), Zack Mrozinski (NPHS), Mikala McCullough (MCHS),
James Huffman (MCHS), Julie Myers (SCHS), Amber Neuhold (NPHS), Kirsten Persin (SCHS),
Brooke Stone (SCHS), Emigh Steinhagen (MCHS), Breanna Foster (LPHS), and Natalie Tuholski
(LPHS).
Each of the CTE programs at A. K. Smith also recognized an Outstanding Student of the Year.
Theyincluded:
Automotive Technology - Dan Bowen
Construction Technology (AK Smith) - Tim Slagle
Construction Technology (NPHS) - Jacob Dockery
Cosmetology - Mackenzie Nehl
Criminal Justice and Law - Elijiah Jenkins
Culinary Arts - Anna Salisbury
Early Childhood Education - Elysha Davis
EMT - Josh Pear
Energy Academy - Justin Downs
Facility Maintenance - Dwyayne Eagle
Fire Safety and Rescue - Micah Wright
Health Careers Academy I - Eva Barron
Health Careers Academy II - Brooke Stone
Modern Machine Technology - Brad Tucker
Welding Technology - Natalie Tuholski
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 - Brad Tucker
La Porte High School - Alyvia Messer
Michigan City High School - Brikea Sherrod
New Buffalo High School - Kaitlyn Biela
New Prairie High School - James Lewis III
South Central High School - Anna Salisbury
Westville High School - Jacob Parkman
Other students receiving special recognition included:
● Jim Wallace Memorial Award – Janicia Anderson
● Brad Cohen Award – Colin Nale
● Tej Ram Gupta Scholarship – Janicia Anderson, Kaitlyn Biela, Brikea Sherrod
● Kenneth Patterson Memorial Scholarship – Devin Higginbotham
This year, Work Ethic Certificates were awarded to 62 CTE students who participated in an
optional certification program offered through the Region 1 Youth Council and the State of Indiana.
Students earning Work Ethic certification completed requirements based on attendance, discipline, and
community service. They also were evaluated on their organizational skills, punctuality, respectfulness,
and teamwork. Certification will give these students priority in job placement with companies across
Northwest Indiana who are recognizing the importance of work ethics in their hiring practices.
In addition, 51 seniors were recognized during the awards program for completing 15 or more hours of
dual college credit from Ivy Tech Community College. These students also were invited to participate in
Ivy Tech’s regional graduation ceremony, which took place on Saturday, May 11.