Lowndes County Public Schools acknowledge student leaders

The Lowndes County Career Technical Education (CTE) programs celebrated their CTE Leaders of the Month on Feb. 19.

There were a total of seven students named from both The Calhoun School and Central High School, ranging from grades 9-12.

The number of students named as CTE Leaders of the Month may vary depending on how many teachers recommend a student. Each CTE teacher can recommend one student per their program and one teacher is recommended by the CTE Director each month.

Shameka Baker, Career Tech Director, highlighted the importance of recognizing students as CTE Leaders of the Month and said the honor helps to encourage and motivate the students.

“Being acknowledged boosts students’ confidence and motivation, encouraging them to continue excelling in their CTE programs,” Baker said. “Highlighting exemplary students and teachers as leaders sets a positive example for their peers, inspiring them to strive for excellence in their own endeavors. Also, by showcasing students’ successes, we demonstrate the value and impact of CTE programs, attracting more students to participate and become interested in our CTE programs. Acknowledging students and their contributions aims to celebrate excellence. By acknowledging students’ achievements, we celebrate their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments, fostering a culture of excellence within our CTE programs and schools.”

February’s CTE Leaders of the Month highlighted the following students and their accomplishments;

• Iyanna Wallace, from Central High School, helps her peers prepare for testing and helps with training on Microsoft Word. She was the first to pass her certification.
• Isabella Wheeler, a student at The Calhoun School, has shown great leadership in her welding class. She is always willing to step up to the challenge and has shown significant progress in the classroom.
• Jarquius Maye has displayed character education through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism and responsibility in his class at The Calhoun School. He is always willing to help and assist his fellow classmates.
• Central’s Camille Gordon has also shown great characteristics and great leadership in her Welding class. She is always willing to step up to the challenge.
• The Calhoun’s Amari Steiner has proven to be a hard-working student with a genuine eagerness to learn and go above and beyond what is required of her. She takes initiative to help others and is always responsible and respectful in her computer science class.
• Cadet Gabrielle Briggins, Battalion Commander at Central, has displayed true professionalism and leadership in her Junior Officer Training Corps (JROTC) classroom. Her GPA is a 3.8 and she is currently eight in her graduation class.
• Eugene Rudolph is a Central student who has shown initiative in his modern manufacturing classroom. He has demonstrated character education through compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, optimism, and responsibility.

Samita Jeter, Lowndes County Public Schools Superintendent, said that the CTE Program is highly important to the success of the students and hopes that the encouragement will take the students far in school and beyond.

“Our CTE Program does a great job of teaching career readiness or soft skills necessary for high-demand jobs,” Jeter said. “Therefore, recognizing student achievements is important because it gives them a sense of accomplishment. It increases their self-confidence and makes them work harder. This eventually leads them to becoming leaders among their peers. CTE competitions give students valuable experiences and skills that will make them more attractive to employers and more confident in their careers. Competitions provide safe places for students to make mistakes, fail, and celebrate their own successes as well as those of others. Therefore, it is our hope that acknowledging their accomplishments will instill a sense of pride.”