At St. Croix's CTEC 21st Certification Ceremony held June 13, 2016, 179 graduates stand to be recognized. Certificates were awarded to students in 24 programs.
The faculty and staff of the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) held their 21st Certification Ceremony for 179 honorees on Monday, June 13 at the St. Croix Educational Complex auditorium.
Education officials and CTEC staff joined with parents, guardians, friends and well-wishers to see the student-honorees awarded certificates in 19 different technical and career programs. CTEC Principal Myrl P.T. Hendricks told the honorees the academic and technical training they obtained at the institution are necessary to proceed in their future careers as they become life-long learners.
“Whether you are on your way to college, a technological institution or entering the workforce, it is critical to be professionally and technologically prepared to compete in this global economy, and it is my hope that you will remember your excellent instructors,” Hendricks said. “We hope that this ceremony will serve as an inspiration for both young and old alike to utilize every opportunity to apply technical skills to meet the challenges we face in this 21st Century economy.”
Gregory Christian, a graduate of the local public school system, was the guest speaker at the certification ceremony. Mr. Christian, an information technology systems and fiber optics professional in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, encouraged the CTEC honorees to be progressive leaders and risk takers.
“A person who refuses to risk change fails to grow, and a leader who loves the status quo soon become a follower,” he said. “Risk-taking leaders are in very short supply and the ones with vision are pure gold.”
Mr. Christian also offered students insight on the meaning of destiny. “What is your destiny?” he asked. “Destiny is not a matter of chance. It’s a matter of choice. It’s not a thing to wait for. It’s a thing to be achieved.”
Guest speaker Christian discovered six choices on talent that he shared with the honorees:
- Belief – belief lifts your talents;
- Passion – passion energizes your talents;
- Initiative – initiative activates your talents;
- Preparation – preparation positions your talents;
- Practice – practice sharpens your talents; and
- Perseverance – perseverance sustains your talents.
“Remember, make these choices and you can become a talent-plus person,” Christian told the CTEC awardees. “If you have talent you stand alone. If you have talent plus, you stand out.”
Moreover, guest speaker Christian drilled the honorees on loyalty. “Everybody says be loyal to your job, be loyal to your boss,” he said. “I say be loyal to your dreams. You must think outside the box and you must keep pushing yourself because you believe in your vision.”
Finally, steering the honorees on a path to success, Christian said, “Do not be afraid to fail. Do not listen to the naysayers or it has never been done before. The next step is to work hard and leave no stones unturned if you want to win.”
Jada Harris, who was trained in Business Management and Accounting at CTEC received first honors, while Iris Battiste, who also concentrated in Business Management and Accounting, received second honors.
Elizabeth Beck, an instructor in CTEC’s Business Department was recognized as teacher of the year, while school paraprofessional Beverly Gittens was named employee of the year.
Other honorable guests at the Certification Ceremony were Board of Education Chairperson Mary Moorehead; Career and Technical Education Board Vice Chairperson Eileen Garner; Colleen Mae Williams, St. Croix Superintendent of Schools; Deputy Superintendent of Schools Vaughn Hewitt; Cheryl Jeremiah-Ambrose, CTEC’s assistant principal; Margaret Burnett, CTEC’s assistant principal; Genitta Richards, principal of the St. Croix Educational Complex; Henry Mark, St. Croix Central High School’s assistant principal and Willard John, a former CTEC principal.
Chairperson of the Building and Mechanical Trades Department, Bruce Phaire, served as the emcee for the CTEC’s 21st Certification Ceremony.
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CTEC’S Assistant Principal Cheryl Jeremiah-Ambrose helps first honor student Jada Harris show off her prize at Certification Ceremony on Monday, June 13. |
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JAHMOYA D. GUSSIE shows off her certificate at CTEC’s Certification Ceremony on June 13, 2016. |
| PLATFORM GUESTS LISTEN TO GREGORY CHRISTIAN at CTEC’s 21st Certification Ceremony on Monday, June 13. |
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GREGORY CHRISTIAN, an IT and Fiber Optics expert, was the guest speaker at CTEC’s 21st Certification Ceremony on Monday, June 13, 2016. |
| CTEC’S FIRST HONORS STUDENT JADA HARRIS, right, and SECOND HONORS STUDENT IRIS BATTISTE listen to a Speaker at the podium during certification ceremonies on July 13, 2016. |
| CTEC’s Assistant Principal Margaret Burnett gets ready to award Iris Battiste a trophy for placing second in class during Certification Ceremony at the St. Croix Educational Complex auditorium on June 13, 2016. |
| BEVERLY GITTENS, a paraprofessional at CTEC, holds on to her gift after being named employee of the year during Certification Ceremony on Thursday, June 13. |
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ST. CROIX SUPERINTENDENT COLLEEN MAE WILLIAMS reaches to congratulate student at CTEC’s 21st Certification Ceremony on June 13, 2016. |
