Little Rock, Hot Springs - Results are in and celebrations continue at NEA Career & Technical Center in Jonesboro.
While Health Science Technology students returned with numerous awards from state HOSA competition in Hot Springs, students in all other NEACTC programs of study continued their preparations for competing at Pro Start and Skills USA. And needless to say, it was quite a successful year as students from seven programs of study walked away with the hardware--literally.
Students earned a total of 29 state medals. Nine students won gold, seven won silver, and an additional thirteen walked away with bronze awards at state. After tallying the results, NEACTC Director Eddie Crain stated, "This has been a phenomenal year for student achievement. I am very proud of our students but none of this would be possible without the dedication of our instructional staff guiding and teaching those students."
Crain noted that it is critical that Arkansas Career Ed officials ensure competitions are held in all content areas so that secondary technical center students have a venue to showcase their skills.
"This year we have a new program of study in Industrial Maintenance created to meet the demand of NEA industry. Although there is national competition, none was held at the state level in critical areas. Students from our IT program had competed at Burdette in early February and after just four months of this course of study, students won 2nd and 3rd in regional mechatronics competition. Therefore, we have reason to believe those students could have been successful competing at the state level--IF there had been competition held in mechatronics. Nonetheless, it was an amazing year for our students and I could not be more proud of everyone involved," Crain stated.
At the Burdette and Blytheville regional competition February 2nd, an additional seven NEACTC students earned competition medals. Three NEACTC programs of study competed with each program of study earning medals. An NEACTC student earned gold in Early Childhood (hands-on), the HST team won silver in the Medical Professions Quiz Bowl, and two IT students earned medals, with one each in silver and bronze.
At Little Rock, the four-member team representing NEACTC Hospitality and Culinary Arts each earned bronze medals and a total of $48,000 in scholarship offers for their efforts.
A hearty CONGRATULATIONS to NEACTC staff and students for your 2018 efforts!
To learn more about individual winners, competition and misc. photos, visit the official NEACTC Twitter site @NEACTC1.