The winning essays in the Cliff Weiss memorial contest.

The winning essays in the Cliff Weiss memorial contest. This was the first year of a new essay contest sponsored by ACTE ACTE Association for Career and Technical Education (formerly American Vocational Association)ACTE Association of Corporate Travel ExecutivesACTE Approvals Committee for Terminal EquipmentACTE Anodal Closure Tetanus inmemory of former ACTE Senior Director of Communications Director of Communications is a position in the private and public sectors. The Director of Communications is responsible for managing and directing an organization's internal and external communications. Cliff Weiss(1951-2004), who had a passion for career and technical education andbelieved very strongly in its value. Weiss shared his gift for writingby helping bring that message about the value of CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) The difference between the way two materials expand when heat is applied. This is very critical when chips are mounted to printed circuit boards, because the silicon chip expands at a different rate than the plastic board. to the public, sothe purpose of this contest is to recognize career and technicaleducation students who share the same passion and talents. One winnerwas selected in the category of secondary education and one in thecategory of postsecondary education. Here are this year's winningessays, and to find out more about the competition, visit the ACTE Website at www.acteonline.org. How have your experiences in career and technical education helpedyou prepare for your future? By Megan E. Myers My hands shook as I stumbled across the stage to accept the award Ihad worked for rigorously. As a first-year member of Future BusinessLeaders of America, I was surprised to have placed in my event. Thechance to attend the National Leadership Conference had itself beengreat compensation for my efforts, and this honor was just icing on thecake. The blackness behind the blinding lights did nothing to ease mynerves as I stood there. Up in front of thousands of members, myrealization of all the doors FBLA FBLA Future Business Leaders of AmericaFBLA Florida Board of Landscape Architecture could provide for me was open wide.Now what would I do with this understanding? When I joined FBLA, I was not looking for Looking forIn the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. recognition; I was simplyhoping to be a part of an extracurricular that would be both fun andhelp develop interests that could be carried over to my future. Theopportunities that this career and technical student organization Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are vocational organizations primarily based in high schools. Often, on the state level, they are integrated into Departments of Education or incorporated as non-profit organizations. provided me with met that goal. Through FBLA I have been able to hone myleadership and communication skills. Working with other members has mademe embrace the differences in people, a lesson that everyone must learnto be successful. We have been able to help each other grow along theway, providing invaluable lessons in teamwork that can later be appliedto any situation. I strongly feel that working closely with my peers hasand will continue to make an impact on my life. Career and technical education has also instilled a preciousquality in me--self-confidence. My experiences of working with businessprofessionals have helped me grow comfortable in front of any crowd; mynerves are much calmer than during my first trip onstage on��stage?adj.Situated or taking place in the area of a stage that is visible to the audience.adv.In or into the area of a stage that is visible to the audience.Adj. 1. ! This willprove vital in the future as I enter the corporate world. Not only willI be able to rise confidently to any challenge, but I also already boasta wide array of professional contacts. FBLA even helped me discoverwhich career path I want to pursue! Without this organization I ampositive that my future would not be as promising. I stood onstage again two years after that memorable firstexperience but for a different purpose--I was being inducted as an FBLANational Officer. This time I basked in the moment, reflecting on allthat I had gained because of the organization and career and technicaleducation. It was not always easy, but the benefits to what lies aheadon the road to my success are immeasurable. The future is in my hands,and I am confident that this distinctive education and its experienceswill play a pivotal role in my successful endeavors. No longer a need totremble, I confidently raise my hand and wave to the members whom I willproudly lead to reach their potential as well. Megan E. Myers, the secondary education winner of the 2005 CliffWeiss Memorial Essay Contest, attends West Muskingum High School West Muskingum High School is a public high school near Zanesville, Ohio. It is the only high school in the West Muskingum Local School District. Their nickname is the Tornadoes. External linksDistrict Website Notes and references inZanesville, Ohio Zanesville is a city in Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muskingum CountyGR6. . How have your experiences in career and technical education helpedyou prepare for your future? By Katty Kellogg Introduction My heart's desire has been to work with children. Although Ihad experience working in a daycare setting, I had no postsecondaryeducation. I was not qualified to do what I loved beyond a minimum wagelevel. High school held no fascination for me. Although my grammar skillswere sufficient for English class, I was essentially lost in every otherarea. My lackluster academic records and poor attitude about school mademe an unlikely candidate for college. I could see my future looming looming:see mirage. ahead, waiting to consume me. Where there is no vision ... My head hung low and my self-esteem shoved way down into my deepestpocket, I walked into Ozarks Technical Community College Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) is "the community's college" in Springfield, Missouri, established by Springfield and thirteen surrounding public school districts on April 3, 1990. As the region's new comprehensive community college, OTC has an open-admissions policy. (OTC OTCSee: Over-the-counter.OTCSee over-the-counter market (OTC). ). Glancingup briefly, I took in the scene: hardworking professionals performing aplethora plethora/pleth��o��ra/ (pleth��ah-rah)1. an excess of blood.2. by extension, a red florid complexion.pletho��ricpleth��o��ran.1. of important tasks, students stepping quickly and confidentlywith looks of determination and purpose. I quickly looked back down atthe floor terrified ter��ri��fy?tr.v. ter��ri��fied, ter��ri��fy��ing, ter��ri��fies1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten.2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. that everyone knew, just as I did, that Ididn't belong there. With motivation barely adequate to put one foot in front of theother, I managed to complete the necessary paperwork and drive home,conceding defeat. I felt foolish for entertaining the fantasy that Imight have the intelligence or the discipline to go back to school.There seemed to be another mysterious, elusive element that collegestudents possessed as well. While I didn't know what it was, I wascertain I didn't have it. In the grayness of a visionless future, somehow I had taken thefirst step. In the whirlwind whirlwind,revolving mass of air resulting from local atmospheric instability, such as that caused by intense heating of the ground by the sun on a hot summer day. that followed, I found myself rushing tomeet deadlines. I had almost waited too late to apply for the Fallsemester se��mes��ter?n.One of two divisions of 15 to 18 weeks each of an academic year.[German, from Latin (cursus) s . I had just enough time to meet those deadlines, but not enoughtime to reconsider. "Future" Success Suddenly, it seems, I am in pursuit of an Associate of Arts Associate of arts and Associate of science are two-year undergraduate degrees offered by many community colleges or junior colleges in the United States. Such degrees transfer to four-year institutions which offer full bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. degreein Early Childhood Education with a 4.00 grade point average. That maybe a reflection of accumulated knowledge, which I will be eternallygrateful for, but I have learned so much more than academics: more aboutothers and more about myself. My high school and community were basically unicultural in nature,e.g., one color, one religion, one way of doing things, and one way ofthinking. Exposure to a socially and culturally diverse campus has ledme to a deeper understanding and appreciation of individual differences. Attending Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) has allowed meto meet the potential that had lain dormant Latent; inactive; silent. That which is dormant is not used, asserted, or enforced.A dormant partner is a member of a partnership who has a financial interest yet is silent, in that he or she takes no control over the business. , awakening my desire toacquire knowledge and become an active participant in an educatedsociety. Conclusion The time lapse between my high school graduation and my enrollmentat Ozarks Technical Community College was 29 years. Apparently, you canteach an old dog new tricks! That mysterious element that no longer eludes me is"confidence." Confidence not only in my knowledge, butconfidence in my ability to learn as well; now and in the future. Whether I choose to pursue a career or further my education at auniversity, I am enthusiastic about my options after graduation; optionsI didn't previously have. I would not have had enough confidence tobe successful in a university setting prior to my technical educationexperience. I will no longer walk backward in an effort to delay my future. Iwill run forward with anticipation and take hold of it in a passionateembrace. Katty Kellogg, the postsecondary education winner of the CliffWeiss Memorial Essay Contest, attends Ozarks Technical Community Collegein Missouri.