Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) Career and Technical Education (CTE) students ranked high at the state Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) conference and the regional SkillsUSA conference. These career readiness competitions provide students with opportunities to sharpen industry-specific skills, develop leadership and teamwork capabilities, and make professional connections. In addition, the Optimist Club of Lynchburg recognized twelfth-grade CTE students for their outstanding achievements.
The CTE program prepares LCS secondary students for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers. CTE students have opportunities to explore options for postsecondary employment and education, graduating with a wide range of marketable skills.
Heritage High Students Qualify for International DECA Competition
Heritage High School students Essence Rosser and Serena Hernandez qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, California from April 27-30. They placed seventh out of 74 other teams in the Travel and Tourism Team Decision-Making category at the state conference in Virginia Beach this month.
Four of their peers also represented Heritage High at the state conference from March 1-3. Barbra Jenkins and Sabiha Steelman competed in the Hospitality Services Team Decision-Making event, while Teshauna Johnson and Taylor West joined forces for the Entrepreneurship Team Decision-Making event. Team decision-making events challenge a team of two participants to analyze a case study in a specific career area and propose a solution.
Heritage High marketing teacher Andrew Kelso will also be recognized at the ICDC for his 40 years of service as an advisor. DECA prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA competitions are an integral part of LCS CTE programming.
Record Number of LCS Students Qualify for State SkillsUSA Conference
More than 20 LCS students qualified for the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) in Virginia Beach from April 19-21. The division will send a record number of students to the SLC, with 12 LCS students making it to the state level in 2023.
Heritage High and E. C. Glass students competed in the district competition in February, participating in the Automotive Service Technology, Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Investigation, Cosmetology, Nail Care, Fantasy Manikin, Total Fantasy Look, Cyber Security, Technical Drafting, and Architectural Drafting events.
The following students qualified for the SLC:
- Joey Martin and Kiah Ford, first place in Cyber Security - Heritage High School (HHS)
- Matthew Kauppi, first place in Architectural Drafting - E. C. Glass High School (ECG)
- Henry Pratt, first place in Technical Drafting - ECG
- Elizabeth Miles, LezLye Mason, and Zeke Taylor, first place in Crime Scene Investigations - ECG
- Hannah Brooks, Zoe Peters, and Stephanie Estrada-Del Cid, second place in Crime Scene Investigations - HHS
- Bella Trevey, second place in Cosmetology - ECG
- Collin Reina, second place in Architectural Drafting - ECG
- Jon-Paul Mancier, second place in Technical Drafting - ECG
- Emily Cox, third place in Criminal Justice - HHS
- Raven Cooper, fourth place in Fantasy Manikin - ECG
- Kaitlyn Meskill, Occupational Display - HHS
The following students also placed in the regional competition:
- John Payne, second place in Automotive Service Technology - ECG
- Scott Pabis, third place in Architectural Drafting - ECG
- Greyson Oliveira, third place in Technical Drafting - ECG
The students who compete in states will have the chance to qualify for the National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA in June.
Optimist Club of Lynchburg Honors 12 CTE Students
The Optimist Club of Lynchburg, a service organization with a mission to bring out the best in youth and the local community, convened at the Oakwood Country Club to recognize nine LCS twelfth graders for their outstanding achievements in their respective CTE fields. CTE teachers nominated students who showed exceptional commitment, progress, optimism, and/or potential in their chosen industries.
The following students were nominated:
Cyber Security
Mekhi Brown - Heritage High School (HHS)
Instructor: Mr. Bill Carter
Cosmetology
Kaitlyn Meskill - HHS
Instructor: Ms. Jasmine Payne
Carpentry
Xavier White - HHS
Instructor: Mr. Jason Daniels
Precision Machining
Joshua Miller - E. C. Glass High School (ECG)
Instructor: Mr. Paul Ewing
Marketing
Essence Rosser - HHS
Instructor: Mr. Andrew Kelso
Criminal Justice
Stephanie Estrada-Del Cid - HHS
Instructor: Mrs. Kelly Glenn
Nurse Aide
Pamela Tweedy - HHS
Instructor: Mrs. Andrea Bryant
Culinary Arts
Thasaiysha Barnett-Snoke - ECG
Instructor: Mr. Tommy Phillips
Dental Careers
Shayna Lyttle - HHS
Instructor: Ms. Whitney Wilson