The Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District’s Career & Technical Education program is recognizing all its students and supporters in celebration of CTE Month in February.
"The goal of CTE is to create a positive impact on students, employers and the local economy in Clare and Gladwin counties," said CTE Director Eric Johnson. "Across the state in February, people recognize the essential role CTE plays in developing the careers of many young people."
CTE serves 390-plus students from Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin and Harrison, helping train them for careers in hands-on fields like construction, education, manufacturing, health and several more. Juniors and seniors spend half of their school day in CTE classrooms and labs, gaining skills, experience and certifications that make them attractive to employers.
"We're in an exciting phase for CTE," Johnson said. "We have a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled on April 5th that will mark the beginning of construction for a state-of-the-art facility at the John C. Magnus Center, supported by a grant from the State of Michigan. This is a significant step forward for our program."
The expansion, projected for completion in August 2025, will enable the relocation of all CTE offices and support staff. The new facility will address the steadily growing demands of the CTE program with spacious classrooms, improved program flexibility, a 6500-square-foot conference center, and a commercial kitchen for culinary arts students.
In addition to the expansion, CTE is in the heart of recruitment season, talking to 10th- and 11th-graders and getting them signed up for next fall's classes.
Along with these developments, CTE has attained numerous notable achievements over the past year. These accomplishments include:
- CTE introduced the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program in collaboration with Northern Logistics this year, responding to the rising demand for skilled technicians. Students benefit from instruction by industry experts, ensuring they stay current with the field’s latest advancements.
- Culinary Arts students from Clare-Gladwin CTE had an engaging experience at the ProStart Boot Camp hosted at the Suburban Collection Showplace, exploring various aspects of the culinary world with around 300 students from across the state, thanks to the Michigan Hospitality Foundation.
- Construction Trades students are actively working on building two cabins for the Gladwin City Parks/Campground. The completion of the project is expected in the spring, and the cabins will be relocated to the park for campers to enjoy.
- Five students have qualified to compete in the state finals of the Health Occupations Students of America Leadership Conference (HOSA), held in Traverse City. The students will be competing at the conference in CPR/First Aid, Medical Math and Medical Terminology in April.
- Agricultural Science recently organized and participated in the Region VI District 1 FFA Leadership Contest, with students competing in various events, including Prepared Public Speaking, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Demonstration and Job Interview. Madison Jones of Clare earned a place in the Region VI FFA Leadership Contest in February for her outstanding performance in Extemporaneous Public Speaking.
- Olivia Higgins from Farwell, a Digital Media student, won the Grand Award in animation at the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES) competition.
CTE remains dedicated to its mission of equipping students with the essential skills required for success in the workforce, fostering a dynamic learning environment that empowers them for future challenges. Students interested in learning more about CTE activities can visit CTEitsWorking.com, search 'ClareGladwinCTE' on Facebook, or call 989.386.9334.
