McDowell CTE News

Our Carpentry, Masonry, Welding, and Woodworking students enjoyed the Construction Career Day at the Smoky Mountain Event Center. The students learned about the construction and skilled trades opportunities from 60 Western North Carolina employers.

Congratulations to our CTE Honor Society members! Students were honored with a fun ceremony at the Historic Carson House. Fifty-Four students were recognized and presented with a certificate and cord by their teachers, followed by lunch and games.

Crime scene practical exam for Law 1 students. Math, science and English strike again! Thanks to our Theater Arts program for the crime scenes. Collaboration is key!

CTE Horticulture students did a great job at Smokey Que's BBQ planting plants grown in our greenhouse!

CTE Teachers were celebrated BIG during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10). CTE teachers were gifted a Charcuterie treat, Homemade Ice Cream, Lunch from JD's Smokehouse, and the CTE Student Advisory Board prepared a hamburger/hot dog cookout.

Congratulations to our Hospitality & Tourism students who are now certified as Guest Service Professionals with the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

We celebrated our Early Childhood Students during an Apprenticeship Signing Ceremony. Four seniors completed their pre-apprenticeship at Head Start and were presented a certificate from Director Karey Dulaney. Junior Early Childhood Students signed their pre-apprenticeship agreements and will begin working at Head Start this summer. We are very proud of our Early Childhood Education program and our teacher, Staci Shaw!

Senior, Brenda Magana committed to an Early Childhood Apprenticeship program and will begin working at Head Start while continuing her Early Childhood Education at McDowell Technical Community College tuition free.

Senior Joseph Woodby will complete his pre-apprenticeship with Dodge Industrial at the end of this semester. He signed to continue his employment with the company through their apprenticeship program and will continue his education in machining at McDowell Technical Community College tuition free.

Dr. Grit and Charlie Milling signed our new K-12 Teacher Education Apprenticeship on May 7. We are very excited to start Teaching as a Profession at McDowell High School as an additional CTE pathway for our students who want to become educators. Students will have the option to complete internships, pre-apprenticeships and continue as an apprentice with McDowell County Schools.

Game Art & Design students went on a field trip to Black Mountain Escape.

Bailey Moss & Landon Wilson represented us well in Anaheim, CA at the ICDC (DECA) Conference. They placed 8th in the world!

Thank you Dodge Industrial for allowing our students to visit your industry. They learned about careers, toured the facility, and showed their durable skills during mock interviews.

Culinary II - Period 1- 1st place: Angel Pyatt & Anne Marrie (Homemade Vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting)

Culinary II- Period 2 - 1st place: Emily Waycaster, Rebekah Dalton, Logan Denny, Gabe Jackson & Kyle Wheelon (Keylime Cupcakes)

Culinary III - 1st place: Claire Surphlis (Wildberry with a Strawberry Compote)

Jay Perry, with McDowell Tech Graphic Design partnered with our Adobe Academy Classes.

Big thanks to the MHS LatinX Club and Mr. Zapata for partnering with CTE to host our first Spanish Teen Court.

State competition winners for Amazing Shake, DECA, FBLA, and Skills USA were recognized on May 13 by our board members.

McDowell County Amazing Shake Winners & Global Amazing Shake Competition Participants -

Addison Gorecki & Evelyn Kinninger

Law & Justice II students spent the day at the McDowell County Shooting Range on May 14. Instructors from all around volunteered their time to work with our students on safety, marksmanship fundamentals, and decision making. Rifle, pistol, and firearms simulator training were all part of the experience. Thanks to MTCC Law Enforcement Training Center, Marion Police Department, NCDAC, Swamp Fox Actual, and the staff at the McDowell County Shooting Range.

Early Childhood II students hosted a carnival for Head Start students as part of their coursework.

Culinary II students earned their ServSafe Manager Certification in early May. One student has already received a $2/hour raise from their current employer due to earning this certification. Special thanks to Katie Parker (MHS Alum) and NCRLA Foundation for providing us with excellent resources to help prep for this exam.

Culinary II students earned their ServSafe Manager Certification: Logan Denny, Kyle Wheelon, Gabriyal Jackson, Lindsey Nanney, Nyanti Pupoh, Leland Harris, and Alex Wilson.

Also earning their ServSafe Manager Certification : Carter Freeman, Liam Wohnus, Lola Hensley, and Camila Loyola

Thank you, Bojangles of Marion for sponsoring the EMMS Career Cafes this school year! We appreciate your support and generosity!

North Carolina State Parks & Recreation (Brian Vick & Clay Veasey), Crestview Veterinary Hospital (Brittany Wright) and Baxter International (Brittany McPeters, Rhonda Wilkerson, & Karmelah Houston) had great conversation with our EMMS students in the last Career Cafe for the year. Thank you for sharing your careers with our students!

Our Culinary II students prepared a delicious lunch for our Leadership Team on May 15. Our students are gaining real world experience on catering meals as a part of their Culinary II class.

Congratulations to our CTE Excellence Award recipients who were recognized for their achievements in their CTE pathways at the 2024 Academic Banquet on May 16.

These students from Mr. Davis' Automotive Service II class earned the ASE Entry-Level Maintenance & Light Repair Certification.

Jacob Paquette, Jaden Gragg, Damian Gregory, Daniel Bailey & Jonathan Holland

Andrew Huskins, Elijah Manning, & Michael Caruso

Congratulations to Katelyn Finley for earning the National Basic 9-1-1 Dispatch Certification. She blew the test out of the water and is now authorized to answer 9-1-1 calls according to state laws and agency policies and procedures!

Firefighting Technology students were practicing vehicle extrication with the McDowell County Rescue Squad.

Senior, Cordell Nolan signed as an apprentice with Gateway Foundation for construction in their housing division. Gateway strives to make the dream of homeownership a reality for members of our local workforce. Cordell will work with the nonprofit, while attending McDowell Technical Community College, tuition free as a benefit of the apprenticeship program.

Cordell with his parents, Daniel and Amy Nolan.

Students in Health Science II completed and earned their OSHA Certification.

Allie Hartman, Eastan Ayers, Alyssa Kiser, Sage Woodside, Loraina Herrera, Madison Lewis, Carlie Hinson, Camila Loyola, Alehgia Rosas Guardian, & Brooke Washburn

Johnathan Pittman, Natalie Burnette, Ginny Proctor, Aubrey Gragg, Holden Thomas, Izzy Dvorak, & Madeline Moore

Students in Adobe Visual Design earned their Adobe Illustrator certification and Adobe Photoshop.

Sydney Greene, Ezra Fowler, and Yasmin Arriola DeLa-Cruz

Special thanks to McDowell Chamber of Commerce Kim Effler and Steve Bush at Marion Hot Wheels for sponsoring the end of year celebration for the CARP students.

Charley completed an internship at Beam's Funeral Service this semester. He completed a model of the funeral home as his capstone project. He went above and beyond on this amazing final project for his internship. He presented to Kellie Grindstaff and Kendall Waugh.

These Entrepreneurship II students earned their Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification.

Bailey Moss, William Draken, Dominic Ortega, Khloe Chavis, Joysalie Torres, Garrett Bingham, and Weston Gurley. Not Pictured: Hayden Haynes

These Digital Design & Animation II students earned their Autodesk Certification: 3ds Max Certification.

These students in Law & Justice I earned their National Law Enforcement Certification.

Gabriel Ammons

Sarah Burleson

Edward Cervantes-Romero

David Cifuentes-Juarez

William Edwards

Tyina Fletcher

Dylan Lewis

Daniel Magallan

Kole Mancuso

Kevin Martinez Magana

Elizabeth Minish

Tristan Moore

Madison Mosteller

Taylor O'Dear

Kaden Palms

Kaylee Riddle

Marilyn Sorto

Vivian Staton

Jackson West

These students earned their WCA Sawblade Certificate in Woodworking II:

Izaack Argueta

Makaela Gainey Hall

Charles Graves

Landen Greene

Connor Hagan

Jason Hensley

Justin Hollifield

Cannan Holloway

Ocean Kaderlik

Matthew Locklear

Kevin Martinez Magana

Joseph McClure

Ethan McMinn

Benjamin Morris

Kasey Philbeck

Kenneth Revis

Bryan Roberts

Bradin Sheppard

Edwin Steele

Jared Whitesides

Elijah Williams

Mr Brewer and his masonry students did a great job on this beautiful brick planter around the school sign at North Cove Elementary.

Congratulations to Kaylaney on completing her internship with the Marion Police Department. As our first intern, she set a precedent for future students to follow. Kaylaney wanted to personally thank her mentor Cpl. Maisie Harris for her support and guidance throughout her internship journey. We truly appreciate our partnership with the Marion Police Department.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL THE CTE TEACHERS WHO WORK SO HARD EVERYDAY TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS IMPORTANT CAREER SKILLS. THIS SUMMER, WE WILL HOST CAMP OPPORTUNITY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND INFERNO FIRE CAMP.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE FROM CTE!