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Director's Memo 2022-3-21

Monday, March 21, 2022

Tipton FFA member shares her story at Oklahoma Youth Expo

Caroline Gaye, a member of Tipton FFA, talks about how she got involved in FFA and showing animals in a video Oklahoma Youth Expo shared on its Facebook page.

Gaye, who lives at the Tipton Children’s Home, said she became interested after seeing older kids in her town showing animals. In the video, she said, “I wanted to show that I can be responsible and I can be happy the same way they are.”

Gaye won first place in her class and third place overall in OYE’s Purebread Duroc Gilt Division last week.

Watch the video on OYE’s Facebook page and read more about Gaye’s OYE experiences on Fox 23’s website.

 

Aerospace video series expands

Oklahoma CareerTech has added more videos to its “Clear for Takeoff: Get Trained in Oklahoma Aerospace” series.

The most recent videos discuss the Oklahoma Air and Spaceport, which has one of the nation’s longest and widest runways, and the Transportation Safety Institute.

The video series, which highlights career and training opportunities in Oklahoma’s aerospace industry, was developed over several months in cooperation with the ACES program at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Read more and watch the videos on CareerTech’s website.

 

Counselors hear about therapy dog program

Morris Public Schools presented a program on its new therapy dog program at the recent For Counselors Only Conference at Tulsa Technology Center’s Owasso Campus.

The school district started the program last fall to help students deal with stress, anxiety and depression. During their conference presentation, school leaders talked about how counselors from other districts could start similar programs.

The For Counselors Only Conference is sponsored by Oklahoma CareerTech, the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. It provides counselors the opportunity to connect with each other and focus on effective programs professional advocacy and the tools they need to provide results in school counseling programs.

Read more about Morris Public Schools’ therapy dog program and the presentation on KJRH-TV’s website.

 

CareerTech Champion: Kacey Hawkins - Metro Technology Centers

Kacey Hawkins knew she loved social media, and she didn’t want a “regular 9-to-5 job.” That’s where the Trinity School student started in her career planning process. Trinity is an Oklahoma City school that serves children with learning differences.

While in high school, Hawkins enrolled at Metro Technology Centers, first completing the cinematography program and then tackling web design. In the cinematography program, Hawkins learned video editing, lighting and special effects. But she picked up several soft skills at Metro Tech as well, including time management, problem-solving, and of course the importance of spell check.

She said she has also learned a lot about photo editing and is working on her Photoshop certification.

“Mrs. Roberts, my instructor, is like my school mom. She gives us a real perspective of what it’s like to work in the industry, and she encouraged me to get certified,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins graduated high school and plans to build her own business. Still hungry for knowledge, she recently enrolled in Metro Tech's graphic design program and has started making custom buttons for special events.

As a child, Hawkins remembers helping her mom make custom buttons. But the button-making tradition goes back even further.

“My grandma told me she used to make buttons for rodeo cowboys,” she said. “She gave me her button supplies, so I have an inventory for my business!”

Hawkins recently used those supplies and her new skills to make buttons for a project commissioned by her school counselor in recognition of National Button Day.

 

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When you build the house, you don’t start with the roof. -- Ronald Koeman
Last Modified on Jun 17, 2022
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