High School Academy Students attend Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

Nine students from the Career Technical Education Academies at three different high schools were able to attend the annual meeting of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 5, thanks to Ed Welch, the president of I.L. Long Construction Co., Inc.

John F. Kennedy High School was represented by students from the Construction & Design Academy, Health Sciences Academy, and ProStart Academy. Carver High School was represented by students from the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Atkins Academic & Technology High School was represented by students from the Biotechnology Academy. Each of these high schools offers students the opportunity to study in a focused career path for four years and graduate with a nationally recognized credential.

“These students are all interested in pursuing additional education after graduation to reach their career goals,” said Nancy Harris, the magnet coordinator at Kennedy. “They will also have internships, job shadowing, and work experience on their resumes at the end of high school that will allow them to work in their chosen fields.

“Maria Toscano, a junior in the ProStart Academy at Kennedy, is looking forward to beginning the first phase of the restaurant management internship process this spring.  She will work a total of 400 hours over two years and hopes to spend part of that time with an established local restaurant enterprise.

“All students had time to spend networking before and after the meeting and found that members of the Rotary Club (hosts of the event with the Chamber), Truliant Credit Union and several small businesses were more than willing to speak with them about their futures.  Marvin Ashley, a sophomore Construction and Design Academy student at Kennedy, came away with several business cards, a future business contact, and information about scholarships for high school students. In his words, ‘I did not realize that so many business people are interested in what I am doing in high school.  I am excited about that!’”

Pictured (left to right):

Nancy Harris (Kennedy, Magnet Coordinator), Nicole Miller (Carver, Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Coordinator), Lucas Brim (Carver), Jenee Miller (Carver), Alyssa Westberry (Carver), Dr. Shirley Bynum (CTE Co-Director), Dr. Beverly Emory (Superintendent), Marvin Ashley (Kennedy), Lizbeth Vasquez (Kennedy), TJ Turner (Atkins), Anna Ramos-Rodriguez (Kennedy), Meredith Hemphill (Atkins), Maria Toscano (Kennedy), Terry Howerton (Atkins, Biotechnology Coordinator)