Latest news with #CloverParkTechnicalCollege
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
School didn't connect for me until a Pierce teacher showed me STEM
As a young child, I struggled with reading, writing and grammar due to dyslexia. School was frustrating, and I often felt overlooked. By seventh grade, I was reading at a third-grade level and doubted I'd even finish high school. Everything changed when I joined my school's new robotics and computer science program. It was the first time I connected with learning, where creativity and logic came together. The teacher who led the class believed in me when few others had. That encouragement and exposure to STEM opened a door I didn't know existed. For the first time, I felt excited about the future. Even though I still face challenges, STEM gave me confidence and purpose. Now, instead of barely getting by, I'm planning to go to college and pursue a career in technology or computer engineering. My journey thus far is why being honored at the 2025 Washington State STEM Signing Day meant so much to me. Presented by Boeing, the event recognized my fellow honorees and me as we signed letters of intent to pursue our goals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). It was empowering to be celebrated not for where I started, but for where I'm headed — toward a new chapter at Clover Park Technical College, where I plan to study Network Operations and System Security. For me, STEM isn't just a field of study; it's a way to shape a brighter, more innovative future. That future is being built right here in Washington. Employers across our state are creating exciting opportunities in fast-growing fields like healthcare, advanced computing and manufacturing. And, as the job market changes and the economy continues to evolve, one thing stays the same: The best opportunities are going to those who have the credentials and training to meet them. That's why I'm going to Clover Park Technical College this fall; I want to build the foundation for the future I want. But there's still work to do, for me and my peers. Only about 40% of high school students in Washington are expected to complete a credential after high school, such as a degree, certificate or apprenticeship. It's a tough statistic, but I believe we can change it. I want to see more of us continue our education and step confidently into the future. If you're uncertain about what comes next, that's completely okay. There are so many different education and training options out there, and the most important thing is finding the one that fits you. To any student who is unsure about pursuing STEM, I say: give it a chance, even if school hasn't always made sense to you. I was able to succeed academically, thanks to STEM. You don't need to be perfect or have it all figured out; you only need curiosity and a willingness to try. STEM is about problem-solving, creativity and imagination. It gave me purpose and showed me that despite the challenges, I could build a future I never thought possible. So, try that coding club, engineering class or science competition — you might find more than just a subject you enjoy. You might find a path that can transform and change your life. Christian Fairall a recent graduate of the Pierce County Skills Center and one of this year's honorees at Washington State STEM Signing Day.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Show of skill
Feb. 28—MOSES LAKE — It seems like everybody is talking about students going to state. Wrestling, basketball, swimming — all the state tournaments have been a topic of discussion. But not every state competition involves coaches and locker rooms. The Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, or CBTECH, will send 25 students to Washington state's SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference March 27-29, the largest contingent the school has ever sent. The SkillsUSA allows students to compete in 92 different skill areas, anything from cabinetmaking to nail care to T-shirt design. "It covers everything," said CBTECH Culinary Instructor Nathan Bathurst. "My class does baking and culinary arts. The welding class has two or three different welding competitions. The criminal justice (class) has a criminal justice competition. Then there's things like speech and job interviewing and leadership, a lot of soft skills-type competitions ... If you could think of a competition, they probably have it." CBTECH will also send students from the automotive and firefighting programs, Bathurst said. Most of the competitions will be held at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, south of Tacoma, except for firefighting, which will be at Central Pierce Fire Station 60 in Spanaway. "(For firefighting) it's how fast can they get dressed, and did they roll the hose correctly? In an emergency situation, the hose unrolls really fast (and) they need to be able to prove that they have that skill. There's a lot of knot tying and safety harness stuff, hard skills that firefighters need." Last year, a CBTECH fire science student took first place in first aid CPR and went on to the national competition, said CBTECH Director Christine Armstrong. The students' journey to this point began with smaller competitions at CBTECH, Bathurst said. The winners of those went to the regional competitions at various points around Central Washington: automotive students to Newport, criminal justice in Walla Walla and firefighting and culinary at CBTECH. The state competition is a big event, Armstrong said, 4,000-5,000 people counting students, teachers and parents. Students will take the bus to Seattle Thursday and stay at the Hilton Doubletree Seattle Airport. That evening, according to the Skills USA Washington website, they'll hear a presentation by Shea Booster, a leadership consultant and former Future Farmers of America national vice president. Competitions will begin bright and early at 7:30 Friday morning and run until 5 p.m. Saturday awards will be given out and students will find out which of them will go to the national competition in Atlanta in June. The winners at the state and national levels get more out of it than just bragging rights, Armstrong and Bathurst said. "it looks great on a resume," Armstrong said. "It looks great on any application form if you went to state or you went to Nationals for SkillsUSA, because anybody who's in a (vocational) area knows what that means, and it's pretty special." "At the state level, there's a lot of sponsorship from industries, and there's a lot of incentives for kids to be there and compete," Bathurst said. "We had a kid (who) won a $500 welder ... At the national level, there's bigger incentives. If you do really well, you can get thousands of dollars worth of prizes." One of his students placed third last year and was offered a $1,000 scholarship to a culinary school, Barthurst added. "It's a fantastic opportunity for students to see what competition on a state level looks like, and sometimes even a national level," Armstrong said. CBTECH Competitors: Baking Monique Martinez Jocelynne Bong Criminal Justice Anais Ayala Culinary Tobias Smith Marcus Peterson Lillyanne Kappel-Baker Extemporaneous Speech Ethan Ogle Emmanuel Zepeda-Lopez Firefighting Zander Leasher Mylee Dana Dehlila Diaz First Aid Jerzey Nuetzhorn Adan Moreno Brooke Dana Ceri Perkins Kora Preston Firefighting Isai Gutierrez Katelyn Fretwell Metal Art Mikayla Friedbauer Karson Kowallis Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair Grason Padilla David Couture Roan Prentice Tyler Jolley
