24 graduate from CareerTech, SSM Health youth apprentice program
Twenty-four technology center students recently graduated from the inaugural SSM Health youth apprenticeship program.
The students, all from Oklahoma City area technology centers, were the first participants in the program, which allowed them to have a paying job at a major health provider while they were still seniors in high school.
The program is a result of more than a year’s worth of planning between Oklahoma CareerTech’s Health Science Education division and SSM Health, which operates multiple facilities in the Oklahoma City area. Building off a similar project based in Wisconsin, SSM offered 24 apprenticeships in advanced unlicensed assistant, medical assistant and phlebotomy.
“This groundbreaking opportunity allowed students to compete for positions through an interview process and after a notification of hiring, they attended employee orientation in mid-July 2025 and began their part-time employment when school started in August,” said Lara Morris, HSE program manager at Oklahoma CareerTech.
Read more on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
CareerTech Foundation annual golf tournament planned
The Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation 2026 Golf Tournament will kick off at 8 a.m. Aug. 2 at South Lakes Golf Course in Jenks.
Proceeds from the tournament will support CareerTech student organizations and general scholarships.
Sponsorships range from $200 for a hole sponsor to $2,500 for a tournament sponsor. Individual registration is $125, and team registration for four players is $400. Individual and team registration includes 18 holes, cart use, range balls, beverage cart service and lunch.
More information is available on the Oklahoma CareerTech website.
CareerTech employee receives leadership award
Julie Childers, academic coordinator in Oklahoma CareerTech’s Counseling and Career Development division, received the High Road Leadership Award at the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration Summer Leadership Conference last week.
She was nominated by her peers for the award, which recognizes her for being someone whom other people call or email for guidance while working in counseling, federal programs, student accounting or other networks.
Conference keynote speaker John Maxwell said a high road leader is someone who wants the best for others and “actually helps them be their best.”
Pioneer Tech student steps into career at graduation
A Ponca City High School student graduated in May and stepped into a project management track at a local manufacturing company, thanks in part to skills and contacts he made through Pioneer Technology Center.
Lynkon Davis started welding in his backyard, learning on his own, before entering Pioneer Tech, where he developed his welding skills and more. When the tech center held classes at a Tomco Metal Fab, the owner noticed Davis and his work ethic and willingness to learn.
Eventually, the company offer Davis a welding job offer, which turned into a decision to put him on the project manager track, which will include more formal coursework and professional development.
Read more about Davis’ journey on the Ponca City Public Schools website.
Fourth gen truck driver earns CDL at Central Tech
Judge Jones became the fourth generation in his family to earn a commercial driver’s license when he completed Central Technology Center’s truck driver training program this spring.
When he began looking for a training program, his father contact a former coworker who now teaches truck driver training at Central Tech. The conversation revealed the tech center had what they wanted: real instruction, real seat time and instructors who understand the industry because they’ve experienced it.
“The seat time you get here and the quality of teachers, you can’t beat it,” Jones said. “There’s no other place that you can drive like we do. The experience Central Tech has and what they have to add is unbeatable.”
Read more on the Central Tech website.
Useful links
Follow us on X at @okcareertech and find us on Facebook at Oklahoma CareerTech and on Instagram at oklahomacareertech. Watch CareerTech videos on our YouTube channel.
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State Agency Assistance at a Glance
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
OK Career Guide Training Opportunities
I always tell my kids if you lay down, people will step over you. But if you keep scrambling, if you keep going, someone will always, always give you a hand. Always. But you gotta keep dancing, you gotta keep your feet moving. -- Morgan Freeman
