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Are you attending the summer conference? 🤔 Of course you are, because you want to unless your passion, purpose, and performance in younger generations! 🥳 It's time to start getting excited to hear from this years keynote speaker! If you haven't registered for the conference, you still can by clicking HERE See you in July!

Thank you to all that were able to attend! NVACTE kicked off CTE Month in style with a Northern Nevada networking event on 2/12/25! Seventeen passionate educators from various schools and districts gathered at Schussboom Brewing Co., enjoying pizza, cocktails, and great conversations. The evening was all about building connections, sharing ideas, and celebrating the impact of CTE. It was fantastic to welcome new faces and spark excitement for our upcoming conference in Tahoe this July. Cheers to collaboration, community, and the future of CTE!

Congratulations to Mohave High Schools DECA club in placing 2nd at the State Career Development Conference in the Community Giving and Community Awareness Projects. The conference took place here in Las Vegas in February. The State Career Development Conference is the biggest and most exciting Nevada DECA event of the year. Over 900 members from across Nevada gather each year for three days of competition, workshops, state officer campaigns, networking and countless other opportunities.

Shout out to Paul Rapant, the Business Management teacher at Foothill High School! The Business Management CTE program prepares students to be successful entrepreneurs. Starting from preparing their own business plans - to running a small shirt printing business, Foothill's Business Management CTE brings learning to action.

"Exciting highlights from the Charles River Laboratories Community STEM Day at Washoe County School District's Reed High School! Reed's Biomedical and Human & Social Services students under the leadership of Terin Arnold and Roni Green had the incredible opportunity to engage in hands-on activities and experiments, explore career pathways, and connect with professionals from Charles River whose dedicated staff volunteered their time to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders. A huge thank you to Danielle Brown, Shelby Watty, SHRM-CP, PHR and the staff at Charles River Laboratories in Reno, NV for their generous $12,500 donation to support and enhance these vital CTE pathways! Your commitment to education and workforce development makes a lasting impact."

Congratulations to Dena Locke's Teaching & Training students at the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology for earning their paraprofessional certification! Their dedication and hard work are paving the way for bright futures in education. Wishing you all continued success as you take the next steps toward shaping young minds!

Shout out to  Josh Hartzog and Jason Mattick! Josh Hartzog, CTE Director of WCSD and Jason Mattick, Principal of the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology promoted the need and demand for CTE programs in Nevada. Featured on "Face the State" which is a weekend news program on KTVN Channel 2 in Reno (watch here - https://www.2news.com/video/face-the-state-washoe-county-school-district-cte-initiatives/video_9f451c08-9e88-58b6-808b-d4615db3d7d3.html) , Josh and Jason had an in-depth discussion focused on CTE programs in Northern Nevada. Hosted by Arianna Bennett, the show features interviews with community leaders, experts, and residents, providing viewers with comprehensive insights into topics affecting Northern Nevada.

A shout out to Rancho High Schools Culinary Arts students and teacher, Christina Sargent. Rancho High School had 9 students participate in the Flavors for Life competition this year. Congratulations to the following students and winners! The Level 2 Savory team took first place. The L2 Dessert Student Bryan Rondan received the top Student Award. Other student participants include Prinz Villagracia, Monse Valencia and Anna Toro. Students and Mrs. Sargent were interviewed and featured on channel 8. Students interviewed include Molly Mayorga and Ashton Osbahr. Watch the news report here - https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#report/abb8aed7-fdfb-4ad6-b71e-a627e2b6a20d

Shout out to Greg Gaskill, Theatre Tech teacher from Foothill High School Tech at Foothill High School demonstrates their skills through supporting fantastic performances. From sound to lighting, set design (which includes attention to the smallest detail), Theatre Tech is preparing students for jobs in the entertainment capital of the world. Foothill's TNL Spotlight 9/14/23

Shout out to the Southwest Career & Technical Academy Fashion Design Program! The work of the students and teachers is industry level, highly visible in the community, and award winning! Recently, students won the Las Vegas Fashion Council's Little Black Dress Event, have been featured on Fox 5 News (read the story here - https://www.fox5vegas.com/2025/02/08/las-vegas-high-school-students-design-careers-fashion/) and had their winning Design of the Vegas Wedding Dress Design of the Year put on display at Harry Reid International Airport! Congratulations! Thank you to the Fashion Design teacher and program for helping inspire these students!

Adam Shoda is an exceptional engineering teacher at Incline High School. Throughout his career, Adam has demonstrated unwavering dedication to shaping the future of his students and advancing the field of CTE. Thank you Adam Shoda for your hard work and dedication to your students and CTE! As a past president of the Nevada Association for CTE, Adam has led initiatives that have positively impacted the state's CTE programs. He continues to inspire the next generation of innovators through the InvenTeam Lemelson-MIT Program, where his students engage in hands-on, real-world problem-solving and invention projects. In his role as CTE Department Leader at Incline High School, Adam has helped guide the growth and development of the department, fostering an environment where students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in both academic and career pathways. His expertise and leadership have also been shared nationally, as he has presented at the National ACTE Vision Conference, highlighting his commitment to the broader CTE community. His dedication to continuous professional development and his tireless efforts to enrich students' learning experiences make him an outstanding teacher and a true asset to the CTE community.

We kicked off CTE Month in style with a fantastic Northern Nevada networking event on February 12! Seventeen passionate educators from various schools and districts gathered at Schussboom Brewing Co., enjoying pizza, cocktails, and great conversations. It was an evening of building connections, sharing ideas, and celebrating the impact of CTE. We were thrilled to welcome new faces and spark excitement for our upcoming conference in Tahoe this July! Let’s keep the celebrations going! Join us this week in Las Vegas for another great networking opportunity. Registration is requested to help us plan for food and beverages ( Register Here). Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email and calendar invite. This is a members-only event, so if you haven’t joined yet, you can do so here: ACTE Membership. Las Vegas Networking Event Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM 7531 Ardenno St, North Las Vegas, NV 89084 Hosted by Tina Sargent & Josh Moyorga – our VP of the FCS Division & Fundraising Chair We also want to continue highlighting the amazing work happening in your CTE programs! Share stories about your students, lessons, or partnerships, and we’ll promote them on social media and our website throughout CTE Month. Submit your story here: Celebrate CTE!. Check out our latest posts in the Forum.

Every year, students from the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology's Engineering Academy take on the challenge of a lifetime—designing, building, and racing a human-powered "rover" in NASA’s Human Explorer Rover Challenge. This international competition brings together the best and brightest STEM students from around the world, and AACT’s team consistently ranks among the top. Last year, they finished 2nd in the WORLD in the high school division! This opportunity would not be possible without the power of Career & Technical Education (CTE) and the strong partnerships that support it—most of all the school's continued collaboration and funding support from the University of Nevada, Reno. Programs like this give students hands-on experience in engineering, design, and fabrication, while also building critical professional skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and communication—all essential for success in today's workforce. Shout out to Jim Cooney and AACT's NASA Human Explorer Rover Challenge Team

Chaparral High Schools Culinary Arts Teacher, Dana Sargent and her Culinary Arts students put on a great Cupcake Wars competition this year. Staff was invited to sample a variety of cupcakes made by culinary teams. 27 different teams completed. Each staff member used a ballot to rate the cupcake on multiple standards, including overall taste, consistency, presentation/display, etc. This was a great activity that students fully enjoyed, and the staff was happy to participate as judges. For pictures and winners, check out this ppt with details - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Z9Hsrkni21AYMGVs-VbvYrJ0TomLRQJ5qO-1BmwEw6c/edit#slide=id.g32f6fbbedaf_0_51

For CTE month, let's give a shoutout to Chef Rathmann! Jay Rathmann volunteers daily at the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology in Reno, NV, where he donates both time and materials to their culinary program. His mentorship prepares high school students to participate in the SkillsUSA and ProStart Competitions, helping to develop the future leaders of the culinary world. As a dedicated partner-in-education, Chef Rathmann invests countless hours preparing students for competitions, going far beyond the classroom to ensure their success. Volunteering personal time, he mentors students in refining their culinary techniques, perfecting menus, and public speaking skills to master the art of presentation. Recognizing the financial demands of competition, Chef Rathmann donates ingredients, contributes personal funds, and seeks sponsorships or fundraising opportunities to support students in need. From early morning practices to late-night prep sessions, their unwavering commitment helps students gain confidence, sharpen their skills, and excel on a competitive stage, shaping the next generation of culinary professionals. Thank you Chef!

Chaparral High School would like to give their NJROTC instructors a shout out! Mr. Belford and Mr. Becker work tirelessly to provide the best environment possible for their cadets. They provide multiple opportunities to allow their students to visit military bases, participate in community service projects and compete in physical fitness competitions and air rifle competitions around the valley. An example of their work and efforts is shown below where they took a group of their students to San Diego to learn about what the Navy offers and available opportunities. They met with current active Navy members. Thank you Chaparral NJROTC staff and keep up the good work!

During CTE Month, let's take a moment to recognize and congratulate Michelle Peterson and her talented Culinary Arts students from Reed High School. Michelle Peterson and her students showcased their culinary skills by catering an event using their Global Street Foods food truck! They prepared delicious teriyaki chicken, vegetables, and steamed rice for 200 students exploring Truckee Meadows Community College Applied Technology Center’s Skilled and Technical Programs. This hands-on experience not only highlighted their culinary expertise but also reinforced customer service and real-world learning. Great job, Reed Culinary! Reed High School Culinary Students

In celebrating CTE month, two in-person networking events have been organized—one in Reno and one in Las Vegas. These informal gatherings are designed to connect NVACTE members, foster collaboration, and promote CTE. Appetizers 🍽️ and cocktails 🍷 will be provided (while supplies last). ** Reno Event Wednesday, February 12, 2025 |  4:30 PM – 7:00 PM Schussboom Brewing, Reno 🎵 ** Las Vegas Event Wednesday, February 19, 2025 |  4:00 PM – 6:30 PM 7531 Ardenno St, North Las Vegas, NV 🎉89084(Hosted by Tina Sargent & Josh Moyorga – our VP of the FCS Division & the Fundraising Chair) This is a MEMBERS-ONLY event. Not a member yet? Join at ACTE Membership. Registration is requested to help us plan for food and beverages, and the sooner the better: Networking Event Registration. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email and calendar invite. We look forward to celebrating with you soon!