Michigan Department of Education Announces Recipients of 2010 “Breaking Traditions” Awards

The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education, has selected 39 students from across the state to receive its Breaking Traditions Awards, Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan recently announced. The Breaking Traditions Awards were established to recognize students who have been successful in Career and Technical Education program areas that are nontraditional for their gender. 

The students received the awards at a ceremony today at the Williams Building Auditorium in Lansing. Presenting the awards to the students were Patty Cantú, Director, Office of Career and Technical Education; Joanne Mahony, Supervisor;, and Christine Reiff, Gender Equity/Civil Rights Coordinator, Office of Career and Technical Education. The featured speaker was Sergeant Cherie Ballor with the Lansing Police Department.

“These outstanding students are preparing themselves to enter a career that will benefit them individually and benefit Michigan by increasing diversity in our state’s workforce.” Flanagan said. “By their determination and dedication to pursuing careers in an area nontraditional for their gender, they are role models for peers who may be considering such a career path.”
 
To qualify for consideration, a student had to meet these criteria:

• Be completing a Career and Technical Education program that is nontraditional for his or her gender.
• Be enrolled in a Michigan high school, career center, or community college occupational program during the 2009-2010 school year.
• Be nominated by a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other personnel employed by the student’s school, center, or community college.
• Have satisfactory academic standing and acceptable citizenship and disciplinary history.
• Have made a contribution to awareness of nontraditional careers through successful participation in one or more of the following activities:
  
  • Exemplary completion of a program considered nontraditional for the student’s gender.
  • Successful competition in a program-related event or contest.
  • Participation in a Career and Technical Student Organization.
  • Active recruitment of other students into programs nontraditional for their gender.
  • Mentoring other students in Career and Technical Education programs nontraditional for their gender.
  • Significant contributions to the student’s specific Career and Technical Education program.

In addition to being nominated, each applicant was required to provide two letters of support, write a brief narrative explaining his or her choice of career, obstacles faced, key accomplishments, and complete an essay about the significance of their nontraditional training program. The list of award recipients, in alphabetical order by county for each category, is as follows:

 
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2010 Recognition Awards:
 
Postsecondary:

• Amanda B. Bennett, West Branch (Ogemaw), Welding, Kirtland Community College; Nominator: Daniel Beltz, Instructor
• Tonia Jean Flick, Frankenmuth (Saginaw), Adult Education Recognition Award Building Trades II, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center and Delta College; Nominator: Andrew Neumann, Instructor

Secondary:

• Andrea L. Micou, Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. Aerospace Technical High School, Detroit (Wayne), Flight Sciences; Nominator: Clifford Miller, Instructor
• Darion L. Lopez, Bay City Central High School, Bay City (Bay) Early Childhood Education, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center; Nominator: Kathleen M. Dardas, Instructor
   

Michigan Breaking Traditions 2010 Merit Awards:

• Bridgett Michele Bli, Bay City Central High School, Agriscience, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center; Nominator: Cathy LaLonde, Instructor
• Nina Day, Montabella High School, Construction Trades, Montcalm Area Career Center; Nominator: Dean Gage, Instructor
• Jordan Decker, Caro High School, Child Care and Nursing, Tuscola Technology Center; Nominator: Keri Klein, Counselor
• Sarah J. Demorest, Benzie Central High School, Public Safety/Protective Services, TBAISD Career-Tech Center; Nominator: Thomas Lennox
• Brittany Marie Glumm, Bay City Central High School, Law Enforcement, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center; Nominator: Brian Ducolon, Instructor
• Holly Noel Lanway, Onsted High School, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Lenawee ISD Tech Center; Nominator: Chef Corbett Day
• Madeline LaGault-Stranaly, Cheboygan Area High School, Hospitality and Culinary Services, Cheboygan Area High School; Nominator: Peter Maybank, Instructor
• Morgan A. Nelson, Cadillac Senior High School, Machine Trades and CAD/CAM, Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center; Nominator: David Langdon, Instructor
• Brasia Nierenberger, Eaton Rapids High School, Automobile Technician, Eaton ISD Career Preparation Center; Nominator: Erik Schacterle, Instructor
• Tiffany M. Richmond, Bellaire High School, Small Engine and Related Equipment Repair, Traverse Bay Area ISD Career-Tech Center; Nominator: Tom Tarr, Instructor
• Hannah Schmitt, Hesperia High School, Culinary Arts, Newaygo County Career-Tech Center; Nominator: Teresa Herman, Instructor
• Valerie M. Smith, Holly High School, Drafting and Design Technology, Holly High School; Nominator: Jonathon Andre, Instructor
• Joselyne Villagomez, Oxford High School, Collision Repair Technology
  Oakland Schools Technical Center Northeast; Nominator: Ralph Jones, Instructor
• Erin Taylor Walker, Lapeer West High School, Automotive Mechanics, Lapeer County Educational and Technology Center; Nominator: John Howell, Instructor
   

Michigan Breaking Traditions 2010 Award Certificates:

• Laura Anderson, Fremont High School, Newaygo County Career-Tech Center
• Olivia Michelle Archambo, Cheboygan Area High School
• Nicole Lee Braley, John Glenn High School, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center
• Alexandra Cole, Traverse City Central High School, Traverse Bay Area ISD Career-Tech Center
• Meagan Cole, Madison High School, Lenawee ISD Tech Center
• Tony Dorey, Grant High School, Newaygo County Career-Tech Center
• Carlisha L. Elam, Pontiac High School, Oakland Schools Technical Campus, Northeast
• Corrinne E. Greer, Farmington High School
• Shealynn Elizabeth Guthrie, Cheboygan Area High School
• Allissa Marie Haney, White Cloud High School, Newaygo County Career-Tech Center
• Tiffany M. Haton, Pioneer High School, Clare-Gladwin Career-Tech Center
• Dakota Hosch, Durand Area High School
• Amanda E. Imker, John Glenn High School, Bay Arenac ISD Career Center
• Chelsea Anastasia Kopka, Pinconning High School, Bay Arenac ISD Career Center
• Harlee Sue Letts, Manton High School, Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center
• Annette Miller, Farwell High School, Clare-Gladwin Career-Tech Center
• Alison Penney, Roscommon Area Schools, Career Tech Ctr. at Kirtland Community College
• Vanessa M. Scasny, Cass City High School, Tuscola Technology Center
• Megan Sutton, Beaverton High School, Clare-Gladwin Career-Tech Center
• Jessica J. Wagg, Warren Mott High School, Career Prep Center
• Megan Lou Woodman, Newaygo High School, Newaygo County Career-Tech Center