Story provided by Meridian Technology Center
Meridian Technology Center had 15 students take the top prize at the recent CareerTech Student Organization (CTSO) leadership and skills conferences.
CTSOs are related to a student’s field of study. They allow students to gain leadership and professional development skills and compete in skills contests at the state and national levels.
Students enrolled in programs related to Business and Information Technology can join Business Professionals of America. This year 48 students competed at the BPA state conference. There were 11 first-place winners, with 10 students going on to compete at BPA Nationals in Anaheim, California. Of those students, Gabriel Belford of Perkins; Hanna Larison and Brandi Stallings of Stillwater; and Rachel Owens of Guthrie placed in the top three.
Students in Meridian’s Culinary Arts Program can participate in FCCLA. Four students competed in FCCLA state contests, and three placed in the top three.
Students enrolled in Health Careers, Pharmacy Technology, Biomedical Sciences and Practical Nursing are eligible to join HOSA-Future Health Professionals. This year, 23 students competed in HOSA state contests. Mary Branch of Perkins/Tryon is also serving as the 2023 Oklahoma HOSA Service Chairperson. In June, Branch and other students will attend HOSA’s International Leadership Conference in Dallas.
SkillsUSA is the largest student organization on campus. Students enrolled in trade and industrial education programs like Criminal Justice, Pre-Engineering and Welding are members of SkillsUSA.
Fifteen students won first place at the Oklahoma SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference. They will compete against other winners at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in June. First-place winners include Stillwater students Aubrey Bennett, David Atess, Conner Hoang, Latasha Busk, Kaden Ellis, Hunter McDaniel; Glencoe students Isaac Wilson Reina Nishimuta; Lonewolf student James (Marc) McBride; Tulsa student Hunter Williams; Mulhall-Orlando student Joseph Hermann; Lincoln Academy student Caleb Wells; Perkins student Kieran White; and Edmond student Chase Doles.
Four Meridian students also represent the school as officers for the SkillsUSA North Central District. Isaac Wilson of Glencoe serves as the Vice President; Aidan Hawkins, a home-schooled student from Stillwater, serves as Parliamentarian. Stillwater students Nathaniel Ingram and Layla Harmon are newly elected to the district officer team and will receive their positions during the Summer Leadership Institute in June.
For more information or to enroll, visit www.meridiantech.edu or contact a career counselor by phone at (405) 377-3333 or toll-free at (888) 607-2509.
Meridian Technology Center has been a driver of economic development since 1975. With a mission to educate, enrich lives and secure economic futures, Meridian offers full-time career training programs, short courses, workforce and economic development assistance and entrepreneurial support to residents from the Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater school districts. The school has locations in Stillwater and Guthrie. Meridian is one of 29 schools within Oklahoma’s CareerTech system.