More than 73,000 junior and senior high school students and adults are members of Oklahoma CareerTech’s seven student organizations. Each organization is an integral part of the CareerTech system supporting related programs found on high school and technology center campuses across the state.
Annually, each organization hosts a state spring leadership and skills conference for students to compete in events, elect state officers and gain leadership training and networking opportunities. Students put competencies learned throughout the year to the test, first at the state level, with state winners proceeding to the national level, according the Oklahoma CareerTech Director Phil Berkenbile.
“Students who graduate from CareerTech programs are better prepared for future employment,” Berkenbile said. “They seem to have a smoother transition from school to career because of the experiences provided through CareerTech training.”
Business and industry leaders are also a vital part of state conferences. Professionals often serve as judges or sponsors for competitive events, as they preview their future workforce.
From Feb. 26 to April 30, hundreds of local chapters will be represented at state conferences. The seven groups and their conference highlights include
- DECA, the organization supporting Marketing Education programs, holds the 65th Annual Career Development Conference on Feb. 26-27. About 1,200 members are expected to attend and will be participating in 35 competitive events. The first Entrepreneurship Academy will be a featured event. Oklahoma City University will award scholarships to the top three winners in each competitive event.
- The Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference will host 2,020 students at the Oral Roberts University and Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee campuses March 11-12. More than $1 million in scholarships will be awarded from Oklahoma City University to the top four students placing in each competitive event. BPA is the organization affiliated with Business and Information Technology Education.
- Family and Consumer Sciences Education students involved in the student organization Family, Career and Community Leaders of America travel to OSU-Stillwater for the 62nd FCCLA competitive events on March 28-29. The state convention is April 4 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. The conference theme, “Looking for the CelebNU,” focuses on the special talents of members to help them recognize their own personal “celebrity” status. Immediately following the convention members will distribute food that has been collected for Feed the Children, this year’s FCCLA project.
- The Technology Student Association, associated with Technology Education, holds its spring conference in Oklahoma City on April 1-3. The event features keynote speaker Rhett Laubach and 70 competitive events. Approximately 200 chapters will attend the conference, representing more than 13,000 members.
- Health Careers Education students who are members of HOSA and are attending the 33rd Annual State Leadership Conference on April 9-11 will participate in a blood drive through the Oklahoma Blood Institute. Five new competitive events have been added to the roster this year including Biotechnology, Home Health Aide, Public Service Announcement, Community Emergency Response Team and Forensic Medicine.
- SkillsUSA will hold its 43rd Annual State Leadership and Skills Championship at the Tulsa fairgrounds on April 24-26. More than 75 competitive events will feature students applying the skills learned through Trade and Industrial Education. The diverse skill area contests range from Crime Scene Investigation and Masonry to Fantasy Makeup and Computer Repair.
- FFA, the student organization for Agricultural Education hosts the 82nd State Convention at the Cox Convention Center on April 29-30 in Oklahoma City. The convention highlights HUGSS (Helping Unite Gold Star Survivors), a service project that supports the families of fallen military soldiers. During the convention the new Oklahoma FFA Gear clothing line will be unveiled.
For more information about CareerTech student organizations
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