The CTAE Connector
From the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education
The 2023-2024 BEYOND Career & Tech Expos were enriching experiences for Pasco County juniors and seniors as they explored diverse career pathways beyond academia. These expos showcased local businesses and organizations, and students had the chance to network with the professionals and delve into various industries.
Thank you to our host schools, Hudson High School & Zephyrhills High School, for allowing us to utilize your campuses for our event. Thank you to all of our business partners for participating in this event and exposing our students to diverse career opportunities. Finally, we would like to thank our Keynote Speaker, Chris Mahan, for delivering a powerful message about leadership to our middle and high school students.
By forging partnerships with local businesses and engaging students in hands-on experiences, the schools are cultivating a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to make an impact in their chosen fields. Together, we have the opportunity to shape the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers. By continuing to support and invest in career and technical education, we are building a stronger, more vibrant community for generations to come.
Our final Community Day of the school year was held on April 8th, where we welcomed AmSkills and Hillsborough County School District. Throughout the visit, we witnessed firsthand the unwavering commitment of these schools to foster collaboration and partnership. By opening their doors to business partners and neighboring school districts, they are not only enriching the educational experience but also laying the foundation for a robust future workforce.
Submitted by Jesy Rodriguez
Pasco Young Entrepreneurs Competition (PYEC) provides students with a great opportunity to pitch a business idea to a panel of judges and be named Pasco County Schools' Future Entrepreneur. Students will conceive an idea for a new business, test the idea by talking to potential customers, and gather evidence to validate the viability of their business model. The competition allows our students to showcase their business acumen, creativity, and presentation skills in a "Shark Tank" style setting. Each student must present a unique product or idea designed to address a current problem.
Each student enrolled in the Business and Entrepreneurship Principles course in their respective high school is eligible for this competition. Throughout the course, students are focused on how to develop ideas, put them into action, and build businesses and social ventures like real-world entrepreneurs. Teachers and business advisors will provide valuable feedback while participants maintain responsibility for final decision-making. Entrepreneurship education benefits students from all backgrounds because it teaches students to think outside the box, take chances, and explore creative talents and skills. Furthermore, it creates opportunity, instills confidence, and stimulates the economy.
This year's Pasco Young Entrepreneurs Competition was held on April 25th at Angeline Academy of Innovation. The competition was intense, yet amidst the fierce competition, one student's product shone brighter than the rest, capturing the attention and admiration of all. Congratulations to the first-place winner, Davina Horowitz from Angeline Academy of Innovation, and her product, IV Ease. Second place was Alex Remsberg from J.W. Mitchell High School with his product, DigiPen. Third place went to Andrew Mahmood from Cypress Creek High School with his product Mae Water Bottle. Cash prizes, sponsored by Chris Durant from Tampa Premium Outlets and CareerSource, were awarded to the winners in the amounts of $2,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $250 for third place.
Thank you to the following schools for your participation:
Angeline Academy of Innovation, Cypress Creek High School, Land O' Lakes High School, J.W. Mitchell High School, Pasco High School, & Zephyrhills High School.
Accessible STEM Education for Everyone!
The STEM Bus is Pasco County School’s mobile career-connected STEM experience that exposes students and community members of all ages to STEM and CTE Education. Our STEM Bus is equipped with Stem Pilot Edu-stations that allow students a simulated flight experience, as well as STEM challenges that are aligned with elementary and middle Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This opportunity has been instrumental in fostering teamwork skills and revealing potential career pathways for students' future endeavors.
Thank you to the following Elementary Schools for providing this unique and engaging experience to their students in April.
Sand Pine Elementary School, Longleaf Elementary School, and Lake Myrtle Elementary School.
Submitted by Taylor Constantino
Adult Education is proud of our successful community meet and greet event at Marchman Technical College. We partnered with CareerSource, Academic Evaluation Services, PHSC, and Suncoast Credit Union to provide valuable resources to our ESOL students. CareerSource offered job opportunities and essential services, while Academic Evaluation Services assisted with diploma translations and citizenship. PHSC explained admission opportunities/pathways, and Suncoast Credit Union discussed credit building and membership benefits for citizens and non-citizens of the U.S.
Special thanks to Mrs. Vega and Mrs. Steele for their contributions. Thank you all for making this event a success!
Submitted by Mike Butler
The following Pasco County FFA Members are finalists in their category and the winner will be announced during the FFA convention in June.
Sarah Holden, 10th grade and a member of the Zephyrhills Sr. FFA Chapter a finalist in the Agricultural Communications Category.
Austin John, 12th grade and a member of the Zephyrhills Sr. FFA Chapter, a finalist in the Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance category.
Emily Shvetzoff, 12th grade and a member of the Dade City FFA Chapter, a finalist in the Swine Production category.
The State FFA Degree is the highest honor bestowed upon any regular member of the Florida FFA Association. Each candidate will be recognized and will receive their degree on the Florida FFA Convention Stage during the FFA convention in June.
Dade City FFA: Emily Shvetzoff, Jasmine Rodgers, Myia Myers, Shelby Gibbs
Hudson FFA: Katlyn Eichholtz, Leia Paris, McKenna Colwell
Wesley Chapel FFA: Adrian Bonilla, Jacqueline Degirmenci, Olivia Foti, Madison Gulley
Zephyrhills Sr. FFA: Weslee Howell, Gabriella Philipsen, Erin Potter, Savannah Schibler
Florida’s Finest FFA Chapters: “Florida’s Finest” FFA Chapters. The selection of these chapters is based on the completion of the National Chapter Award program application. The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using a Program of Activities that emphasize growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture.
Pasco County FFA Chapters earning the title are:
Academy at the Farm FFA
Zephyrhills Jr. FFA Chapter
Congratulations to our outstanding Pasco County FFA members and chapters!
Submitted by Leanne John
Marchman Technical College's Commercial Art Students Shine Bright in 2024 Infographic Design Competition
These talented Commercial Art students at Marchman Technical College showcased their exceptional creativity and skill during the 2024 Infographic Design Competition. Infographics take complex data and information and visually communicate that data in an appealing and easy-to-understand format.
Michelle Keyser, Marketing Manager from TouchPoint Medical, gave students an impactful formal critique of their designs. Students learned about the relationship between a marketing and design team and best practices for working together.
We would like to congratulate the following students on their accomplishments at the Design Competition.
High School Students: Alex Billotto, Alex Hamilton, Joe Collins, Katie Burton
Adult Education Students: Tristin Triana, Weston Addison, William Toyens
Thank you to Michelle Keyser, for your invaluable information, feedback, and dedication to our students.
Submitted by Linda Bourne
You Have a Deal, Sharks!
Angeline Academy of Innovation had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have guest judge, Kevin Harrington (an original Shark from Shark Tank), judge our school-based entrepreneurial competition.
Kevin was on Shark Tank for two full seasons and has sold over 6 billion dollars in products. You may even be familiar with a variety of his investments, such as CitiKitty and Sweep Easy. Kevin gave our students helpful advice as we prepared for the upcoming Pasco Young Entrepreneur District Competition that was held at Angeline Academy in April.
Kevin, your invaluable insights will undoubtedly resonate with these students, empowering them with wisdom they can carry throughout their lives. Thank you!
Submitted by Chad Mallo
Triumphs, Improvements, and Looking Ahead
The Wendell Krinn Technical High School Robotics team recently competed in the Tallahassee Regional First Robotics Competition at FAMU. The team’s robot finished in 16th place out of 32 teams in the qualification round and was selected to move into the semifinal round. Unfortunately, they were defeated by the 2nd-place team. However, they came back to school and improved their robot based on the feedback they received in Tallahassee. They then competed in the Orlando Regional First Robotics competition where they finished in 8th place out of 32 teams. They were very proud of their improvement and look forward to their next competition.
Submitted by Emily Lamb
Igniting Passion and Building Bridges in Cybersecurity Education
Instructors from Angeline Academy of Innovation and Marchman Technical College, Michael Marchesano and Barbara Michels, recently had the honor of guiding our cybersecurity students through the enriching experience of BSides Tampa 11 on April 5th and 6th. This event marked a significant milestone in our journey to explore cybersecurity's vast and ever-changing landscape.
The conference proved to be an exhilarating blend of learning, networking, and skill-building. Immersed in the latest cybersecurity trends, our students engaged in hands-on workshops and listened intently to insights shared by leaders in the field. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn at every turn were nothing short of inspiring.
Networking was another critical aspect of the event, providing our students with the chance to connect with professionals and peers. These interactions are not just about forming connections but are stepping stones toward future opportunities in the realm of cybersecurity.
Reflecting on our adventure at BSides Tampa 11, we are filled with pride for our students' commitment and drive. As we look forward, we're excited about the endless possibilities that await and the impact our students will undoubtedly have on the cybersecurity world.
Submitted by Barbara Michels
Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education
Email: lmromano@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/
Location: 7227 Land O' Lakes Boulevard, Land O Lakes, FL, USA
Phone: 813-794-2204
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pascoschools/
