Guest Writers: Ayris Rich and
Candace Murphy
This February 2023 the Harding High School DECA Chapter is celebrating CTE month. Earlier this month we had the opportunity to attend the 2023 District Competition in Columbus, OH where we were able to present our projects to judges while networking and connecting with other DECA students from the Central Ohio area. To celebrate CTE month, the Harding DECA chapter will be hosting different events within the school and community to help raise awareness.
CTE is Career and Technical Education. This is a pathway for students to experience career opportunities and prepare them for high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand careers. Some benefits of CTE are being able to go straight into the career with industry credentials earned. It can also prepare a student for networking in the future.
Talking about CTE is important for our school because students at Harding have their own pathways within the school. We have 9 different pathways available. These spread anywhere from Business Logistics to Welding. Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are co-curricular programs that develop citizenship, leadership, and teamwork skills; this can be essential for students preparing for the workforce and further education.
There are 5 well-known CTSO across the country, these include DECA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, and SkillsUSA. This opportunity was given through the business and marketing classes that are offered at Harding. DECAs program was founded to help students find interest in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Follow us on instagram @hardingdeca and be on the lookout for activities you can join in!