Alivia England, MHS senior 2020

Marion High School is celebrating with Alivia England as one of fifty-eight high school students from the State of Michigan being recognized by the Michigan Dept. of Education with the 2020 Breaking Traditons Awards. 

Alivia, who is in the Agriscience and Natural Resources Program at the Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, is being awarded the Breaking Traditions 2020 Certificate of Recognition. Read more details of this award and the qualifications in the press release below. Congratulations, Alivia!!

MDE Logo

April 21, 2020

LANSING – Fifty-eight high school and four college students across Michigan, who overcame obstacles and stereotypes to succeed in career and technical education (CTE) programs, have received 2020 Breaking Traditions Awards, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced.

“Building talent has long been a priority in Michigan and we take time to recognize such positive achievements,” State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said. “These 62 students overcame perceived barriers to achieve success in career and technical education programs that are nontraditional to their gender, which makes them role models for their peers who may be considering such a career path.

 

“Michigan benefits from Breaking Traditions Awards through an increasingly diverse workforce necessary to meet the challenges when we start the recovery process of the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Rice said.

The 62 students earned in three awards levels: Excellence, Merit, and Recognition.

 

The highest secondary and post-secondary winner received the Excellence

Award, which includes a $250 scholarship from the Michigan Occupational Special Populations Association (MOSPA); a certificate; and a letter of recognition.

 

Merit and Recognition Award winners each received a certificate and letter of recognition.

 

Awards criteria included:

  • Completion of a CTE program nontraditional to their gender;
  • Enrollment in a Michigan high school, career center, or post-secondary program this year;
  • Nomination by a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other staffer employed by the student’s school or career center;
  • Have satisfactory academic standing, acceptable citizenship, and disciplinary history; and
  • Contribute to awareness of nontraditional careers through successful participation in one or more of the following activities:
    • Exemplary completion of a program considered nontraditional to the student’s gender;
    • Successful competition in a program-related event or contest;
    • Participation in a CTE Student Organization;
    • Recruitment of other students into programs nontraditional for their gender;
    • Mentor other students in CTE programs nontraditional for their gender; or
    • Make significant contributions to the student’s CTE program.

Applicants provided two letters of support and wrote a brief narrative explaining the career obstacles they faced and key accomplishments.

 

MDE’s Office of Career and Technical Education oversees high school instructional programs that teach students skills in a specific career cluster. Most programs offer early college credit opportunities to provide a seamless transition to post-secondary education.

 

“The Breaking Traditions Awards extend beyond individual students. These awards also represent the quality of the school culture,” said Dr. Brian Pyles, MDE’s Director of CTE. “Clearly, these schools embrace an inclusive student-focused instructional environment supported by staff, students, and community.”