During a live-streamed celebration on March 23, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) highlighted the work of 24 high school students during the Gwinnett County Public Schools 2021 Career and Technical Education Student of the Year awards recognition program, before naming the district’s top CTE student.
Pari Jain—a senior studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at Peachtree Ridge HS—is the 2021 CTE Student of the Year and the winner of a $1,500 scholarship. Pari says of her STEM studies, “CTE courses have grown me into a business leader,” allowing Pari to reach her potential as she pursues her passion.
Yudy Reyes, a senior in the Government and Public Administration program at Berkmar HS, was honored as 1st runner-up and received a $1,000 scholarship. “All in all, everything that I have accomplished I owe to my instructors and the CTE program,” Yudy says. “I have been placed on a path of success.”
Kobe Achu of North Gwinnett HS was recognized as 2nd runner-up. Recipient of a $750 scholarship, he is a senior in the Government and Public Administration program at his school. “Being in charge of all corps functions and activities is a daunting task,” Kobe says of his experience in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). “But being a part of the JROTC classroom every day helps me learn how to be an effective and efficient leader.”
The three scholarships were funded through the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association and the Jody Reeves Scholarship Fund.
The annual recognition also saluted the top Career and Technical Education students from each high school for the 2020-21 school year. The students—recognized for their achievement in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses during their high school careers—were selected from a field of high-performing students from GCPS high schools.
As part of the selection process, nominated students submitted a résumé, a letter of recommendation from the nominating teacher, information on participation in a Career and Technical Student Organization, details on the student’s community service, and an essay. The final requirement was an interview conducted by a panel of judges consisting of business and industry leaders.
Learn more about programs in Gwinnett schools in this recent celebration of CTE.
We've been celebrating our top CTE students from each Gwinnett high school on "CTE Tuesdays" over the past few weeks. Congratulations to you all!
