Tuesday, Mar. 23, 2010

Blue Springs senior named among “Tech-Prep” students of the year

Journal Staff

A Blue Springs High School senior was recently among a group of nine high school students honored as Tech-Prep students of the year, according to the Blue Springs School District.

Sarah Wolf, was named the winner for the Northwest Missouri Tech Prep Consortium March 5 in a ceremony in Jefferson City.

Wolf attends the Ft. Osage Career and Technology Center where she is taking classes in fire science and emergency medical technician (EMT).

Students were selected on the basis of their commitment to career and technical education, academic achievement, involvement in school or community activities, leadership abilities, and their involvement in student organizations related to their career interests.

According to the district, Tech Prep focuses on academic and career education to prepare young people for postsecondary training in a technical field. All Tech Prep students take part in “2+2” programs, in which they take career-oriented classes during their junior and senior year of high school, then move directly into related studies at a community college, a technical school or an apprenticeship program.

There are 12 regional tech-prep consortiums in Missouri, coordinated by the department of education. Each consortium involves local high schools, area career and technical centers, community colleges and representatives of business, industry and labor. The groups work to coordinate curriculum, academic standards and policies, and articulation agreements so that students are able to move smoothly from high school into postsecondary studies.