CTE student selected as Technical Education Award recipient

Sines (left) accepts the Technical Education Award from
Carol Santini of Mid Michigan Community College.

Clare-Gladwin Career Center student Alexis Sines has been awarded the Technical Education Award from Mid Michigan Community College valued at $500. Sines participated in both the Education in Training and Graphic Arts career and technical education (CTE) programs during her junior and senior years at Clare High School. She was also an active member in The Officials, the Graphic Arts program’s student leadership group whose mission is to offer their time and talents to the local communities, such as providing free design and printing work for local non-profit organizations.

Sines plans to attend Mid Michigan Community College to earn an associate’s degree, and then go on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education. Ultimately, she would like to teach art in a public school setting.

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, provides career and technical education offerings to local high school juniors and seniors. Students spend half of their school day in their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.   

CTE student selected as Breaking Traditions Award winner

Heather Baker, a Culinary Arts student at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, is one of 22 high school

students from across the state to receive the 2015 Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Breaking Traditions Award for surpassing obstacles and stereotypes to achieve success in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

According to State Superintendent Mike Flanagan, "The Breaking Traditions Awards recognize high school and college students who have demonstrated success in CTE programs that are nontraditional to their gender. At a time when there is a call from various stakeholders for building a more-responsive, market-driven schools-to-jobs pipeline, it is important to recognize the efforts of these students and the programs that helped them."

Baker, also a senior at Gladwin High School, was nominated for the recognition by Culinary Arts Instructor Heidi Rocha. “Heather consistently goes above and beyond in everything that she does. Her ability to enter the workforce is outstanding.”

Baker accepted the award at a ceremony at the Library of Michigan in Lansing this month.

"These outstanding students are preparing themselves to enter a career that will benefit them individually and benefit Michigan by increasing diversity in our state's workforce." Flanagan said. "By their determination and dedication to pursuing careers in an area nontraditional for their gender, they are role models for peers who may be considering such a career path."

Baker plans to attend Northwood University to earn a degree in business while continuing her apprenticeship with Chef Fred Garcia of the Lost Arrow Resort. Once she obtains a business degree, Baker would like to further her skills at a culinary arts college, such as the Culinary Institute of America, and eventually own a restaurant.

Culinary Arts is a career and technical education (CTE) program offered to high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Local students celebrated at Turn-Around Achievement Awards

The 2015 Turn-Around Achievement Award Recipients
Photo Credit: Bob Frei

Twenty students from ten local high schools were recognized at the 10th annual Clare-Gladwin Area School Board Association’s Turn-Around Achievement Awards on May 7. Held at Mid Michigan Community College, community leaders in education celebrated the accomplishments of local high school students who have made a positive and significant change in their lives during their high school careers despite extreme personal or academic struggles.

The Keynote Speaker at the awards ceremony was Lindsay Golden, an admissions specialist at Mid Michigan Community College. Originally from Clare, Golden revealed the series of poor decisions she made during her teen years that ultimately led to her dropping out of high school and making choices that threatened her well-being. “At that point, I was the worst possible version of myself,” she said. “It was then I decided I couldn’t live like that anymore.” Golden’s revelation resulted in her returning to school and working around the clock so she could graduate with her class. Today, Golden holds an associate’s degree from Mid Michigan Community College and is working toward her bachelor’s. “What you have accomplished is a big deal,” Golden said, addressing the students. “You should be so proud of yourselves.”

As the awards were presented, tears of joy were shared by both the students and the teachers as they reflected on their journeys to success. “As an educator, you hope to make an impact on students’ lives,” said Lori Taylor, Clare High School teacher. “But I didn’t expect for the students to make such an impact on mine.”

Many award recipients thanked their educators, families, and friends for their encouragement along the way.

In addition to a certificate, recipients of the Turn-Around Achievement Awards were given one of three scholarships, each of which entitles them to six credit hours of in-district tuition at MMCC. The Scholarships included the Doug Dodge Academic Opportunity Award for the Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison schools students; the Al Roeseler Academic Opportunity Award for the students from Coleman High School; and the Tom Gilstad Academic Opportunity Award for those attending Bullock Creek High School or Meridian High School. 

The 2015 Turn-Around Achievement Award recipients include:

Beaverton Jr/Sr High School

April Gibson

Weston Muma

Bullock Creek High School

Trae Duby

Larissa Miller

Clare High School

Christopher Delong

Marissa MacDonald

Clare Pioneer High School

Emanueal Butts

Coleman Jr/Sr High School

Zachary Harris

Shyanne Loggie

Farwell High School

Kailyn Brugger

Travis Smith

Farwell Timberland High School

Joe Elsie

Gladwin High School

Donna Canfield

Blake Roggow

Harrison High School

Devon Barron

Joshua Veite

Harrison Alternative High School

Christopher Hoefling

Bradley Walsh

Meridian High School

Kayla Callahan

Devin Wood

CTE students tour Mid Michigan Children's Museum

The Clare Gladwin Career Center’s Education in Training students recently toured the Mid Michigan Children's Museum in Saginaw. The future educators explored the museum's exhibits and discussed what children learn as they play. They were also informed of the future volunteer opportunities for them at the museum. Additionally, the students participated in activities with patrons of the museum. 

Education in Training is a career and technical education (CTE) class offered to high school juniors and seniors through the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Clare-Gladwin Area School receives Michigan Community Action Award

The Clare-Gladwin Area School, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, received a Michigan Community Action Award on April 30 at the Capitol in Lansing in recognition of the school’s acts of service to the region as a result of a twenty-year partnership with Mid Michigan Community Action Agency.  For the last two decades, groups of student volunteers from the Area School have helped Mid Michigan Community Action Agency pack boxes for food programs, assisting the agency in keeping up with the local food security needs. With the students’ dedication, the agency packs 400-800 boxes daily.

Also known as the RESD Packing Crew, the Area School and its students are one five Michigan Community Action Award recipients selected statewide for 2015. Five staff members and six students from the Area School traveled to Lansing last month to accept the award in the Rotunda of the Capitol.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be recognized for all the hard work that the students and staff have done for more than 20 years,” said Area School Principal Mike Simon. “I would also like to thank Sharla Mitchell of Mid Michigan Community Action Agency for her work with our students and for nominating us for the award.”

Criminal Justice students place third at Delta College Skill Day

The career and technical education (CTE) Criminal Justice students of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, recently placed third overall at the 10^th annual Delta College Criminal Justice Skill Day.

During the event, students competed against their peers from around the state in a physical agility contest in which they had to complete a half-mile shuttle run, a vertical jump, and as many as push-ups and sit-ups as possible in one minute. Student Elaina Wolfe placed third among the female participants and Tommy Nunnally placed third among the male participants.

The high school juniors and seniors also revealed their understanding of the criminal justice field by taking part in knowledge-based game called, “Survey Says.” The Clare-Gladwin team consisting of Ian Hasenfratz, Hope Macklem, and Elaina Wolfe placed third.

Congratulations to the Clare-Gladwin CTE Criminal Justice students:

Nick Benore

Aloria Benson

Madison Crowl

Juliet Dean

 Brad Gallagher

Cristina Gardner

Megan Garver

Jeremy Goheen

 Ian Hasenfratz

Danelle Kource

David Lingaur

Hope Macklem

 Mikayla McKimmy

Frank Michalski

Neil Moldenhauer

Thomas Nunnally

Mariah Penix

Alexis Petrik

Kyla Shannon

Aaryn Shook

Randy Taylor

Milena Toupin

Dustin Trevillian

Olivia Walworth

Elaina Wolf

Criminal Justice is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.