Press Release - NASDCTEc's Star of Education Award Recipients Announced

April 13, 2005
For Immediate Release

Washington, DC (April 13, 2005) —The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) has selected, based on their outstanding and extraordinary contributions to the field of career technical education, its 2005 Star of Education Awards winners.

NASDCTEc’s annual Star of Education Awards are given to those who have helped raise the level of excellence in career technical education through their dedicated work, achievements as a student, business practices, or teaching abilities. The winners will be honored on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. during the association’s 2005 Spring Conference at the Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC.

The award winners are as follows:

• Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), for his tireless efforts to improve education in New Mexico, initiating high school dropout prevention plans and strengthening advanced placement courses, and Representative Tom Osborne (R-NE), for his advocacy during the reauthorization of the Perkins Act and his continuing support of career technical education, are the recipients of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Congressional awards.
• Mr. Freeman Hrabowski, III, president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, whose visionary leadership was instrumental in increasing access to learning for minority groups, and Dr. Linda Clark, Superintendent of the Meridian, Idaho school district, who has successfully worked with data to incorporate technical training into the entire education system, are the recipients of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Educator award.
• The Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Maryland, that demonstrates the positive results of collaboration between the business community and educational institutions and has allowed students the advantage of high-level and practical medical training, and the Arizona Automobile Dealer’s Association, whose hard work allowed students to overcome barriers as they sought industry certification while participating in a quality automotive training program, are the recipients of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Business, Industry, Labor Organization or Association award.
• Mr. James G. Neeley, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, is the recipient of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Individual award for his vital role in procuring funding for a school-to-work opportunities grant, and support for career technical education and workforce development in Tennessee.
• Ms. Patricia Kristilee Beltram, Chairperson of the Business Department at Mesquite High School, Gilbert, AZ, and Dr. Linda Clark, Superintendent of the Meridian, Idaho School District, are the recipients of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Secondary Instructor award for their vigorous service and commitment to career technical education in their schools, communities, and states.
• Mr. Thomas Y. Smith, Sr., Fire Science program director at West Georgia Technical College in La, Grange, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Postsecondary Teacher award for developing and implanting the only complete online Fire Science program in Georgia as well as working to remove barriers for career technical students.
• Mr. Jimmy Tickey, a dedicated volunteer, Connecticut Future Business Leaders of America state president, and high school student, is the recipients of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Secondary Student award.
• Ms. Chelsie Lea Marler of the College of Southern Idaho and who is currently the president of General Motors Body Service Educational Program and past president of SkillsUSA BSEP Chapter at the College of Southern Idaho, is the winners of the 2005 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Postsecondary Student award.

In congratulating the award winners on their hard work and achievements, NASDCTEc Executive Director Kimberly Green said: "Each of the Stars of Education award recipients was chosen by our members, and NASDCTEc is pleased to honor them. They all deserve recognition for their contributions to career technical education, and we are happy to highlight their success stories."