February is National Career and Technical Education Month. As part of the celebration, 35 student leaders came to Pierre last week (Feb. 7-8, 2023) for the South Dakota Career and Technical Student Organizations’ (CTSO) Capital City Experience. Students shadowed legislators at committee meetings, observed House and Senate floor sessions, and learned about a variety of career opportunities in public service.
“Career and technical education is proven effective at preparing students for the future,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves. “Through hands-on learning, students explore high-demand careers. Career and technical student organizations allow students to take their learning to the next level through leadership training and collaboration with their peers.”
The following CTSOs are active in South Dakota: Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) – marketing, finance, hospitality, and management; Educators Rising; Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA); Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America); HOSA-Future Health Professionals; and SkillsUSA – trade, technology, and manufacturing.
Career and technical education equips students with academic skills and the ability to apply those skills for careers and life. CTE emphasizes employability skills like critical thinking, responsibility, and technical skills related to specific career pathways.
Courtesy photo.
2023 CTSO Capital City Experience participants were (Student CTSO School District/University/Technical College):
Payton Meyer FCCLA Alcester-Hudson
Juliann Seeley HOSA Beresford
Haidyn Lounsbery Educators Rising Beresford
Meredith Guggenmos HOSA Brandon Valley
Emily Hua FCCLA Brookings
Laney Spencer FCCLA Burke
Shadia Dakam HOSA Chamberlain
Tina Zoellner Educators Rising Groton Area
Ember Gabriel FCCLA Haakon
Sierra Stiff HOSA Harrisburg
Jeff Ziegler FBLA Highmore-Harrold
Kaylee Morehead HOSA Iroquois
Nicolas Taylor SkillsUSA Lake Area Technical College
Matthew Koopmans SkillsUSA Lake Area Technical College
Emma Murray Educators Rising Madison Central
Mikaila Fluth FBLA McCook Central
Noah Schnee Educators Rising McCook Central
Paul Kaffar FBLA McCook Central
Shawn Boehmer FBLA Mitchell
Ella Ziegeldorf FBLA Mitchell
Alex Lam SkillsUSA Northeast Technical High School
Charley Nuhsbaumer FBLA Redfield
Alexandra Vermeulen FBLA Sanborn Central
Eli Hamre FCCLA Selby Area
Caleb McGregor FFA South Dakota State University
Megan Sanders FFA South Dakota State University
Ella Stiefvater FFA South Dakota State University
Kathryn Rausch FFA South Dakota State University
Jacob Olson FFA South Dakota State University
Sidney Peterson FFA South Dakota State University
Emma Yost HOSA Wagner Community
Mercedes Jones FCCLA Wessington Springs
Lauren Murphy FCCLA West Central
Dylan Buechler SkillsUSA Western Dakota Technical College
Cale Benson SkillsUSA Western Dakota Technical College
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