Breaking Tradition Student Achievement Award
This year’s recipient of the CTEEC Breaking Tradition Student Achievement Award is a
young individual, who has demonstrated that one’s career ambitions need not uphold the
confines of traditional gender-specific work. In fact, this young lady has excelled in a realm that
is typically not the host of female career attention. While maintaining an “A” average in her
academic pursuits and perfect attendance in school, this year’s recipient has been described by
one of her teachers as, “an exception to the rules of the female gender and a premiere example of
a role model to either gender.” Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering
and is already regarded as an accomplished welder by her peers and instructors alike. This young
lady is well on her way to having a national impact on the way society regards women in the
STEM fields and will undoubtedly serve to inspire other young people to take the leap into a
nontraditional career field, for she has unquestionably proven that, regardless of gender, one can
excel in any technology field.
She is an inspiration to any student; her dedication to excellence is paramount. Melissa
Niavez, please rise to receive the award that you so greatly deserve.
Outstanding Member Award
This year’s winner of the CTEEC Outstanding Member Award is a woman who, as a
CTEEC officer, has been instrumental in raising awareness in the technology education field.
Committed to CTEEC’s long-term goals, this year’s recipient has diligently worked to build
bridges between CTEEC and supporting institutions, so that CTEEC is recognized as being at the
forefront of leading individuals into nontraditional careers on a national level. This winner has
also made great strides in career technology instruction, having developed with her sister Woven
Traditions, a cultural competency curriculum. The Curriculum includes classroom-teaching
tools, 30 hours of Professional Development Training, A Plan of Action, Teacher, and Student
Standards with Benchmarks, Assessments and much more. She is currently the principal at D.
Russell Lee Career Technology Center - Butler Technology Career Development Schools and
holds the office of Secretary for the Career and Technical Education Equity Council. In addition,
she is an adjunct professor at Ashland University.
We are pleased to honor Monica Marsh with the Outstanding Member Award for her
steadfast commitment to supporting CTEEC in all its endeavors.
Myra P. Sadker Award
Teaching her students that “gender is not an excuse for not being able to do something,”
this year’s recipient of the Myra P. Sadker award is a woman who has bravely tackled the
stereotypes commonly held by men and women and their attitude toward women in
nontraditional roles. Not only has she worked to promote equality within the educational system,
she has been diligent in ensuring that nontraditional fields are unquestionably inclusive to all
people. In a male dominated field of firefighting where the call is “No man left behind,” our
winner has reshaped the way one feels beholden to their co-workers by instructing that, in the
event of an emergency, “No one is left behind.” Just a simple change of one word can reframe
the paradigms society is used to relying upon.
This former Secondary State Educator Award Winner has inspired young women to
branch out from typical roles into what they really want to pursue, in this case fire science. And
through her instruction, she not only enhances the academic lives of her students but also shapes
them into future leaders in their field. Before she passes the torch to her students, we would like
to introduce Angela Jones as this year’s distinguished Myra P. Sadker Award winner.
Breaking Tradition Achievement Award
Out next recipient is being recognized for her candor in breaking traditions in the STEM
fields, and breaking traditions is precisely what she has done. Being charged with implementing
creative ways to involve women in technical trades, this year’s recipient pioneered Frances
Tuttle’s GirlTech program, a program recognized as the 2009 National Programs and
Practices That Work: Preparing Students for Nontraditional Careers award. One
of the requirements of those considered for the Breaking Tradition Achievem ent
Award is that the individual’s contribution has the potential to make a national
impact, and her expertise in guiding underrepresented groups into nontraditional
fields did exactl y that. As a respected professional, this year ’s recipient caught
the eye of the Obama Administration, which sought her council on how to attract
and retain female students into nontraditional training programs, leading them to
careers based in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There is no
doubt that her positiv e influence and drive to ensure that all people, regardless
of race or gender, has already made a national impact.
I am proud to honor this year ’s CTEEC Breaking Tradition Achievement
Award winner Jessica Bullock.
Friend of CTEEC Award
This year ’s Friend of CTEEC Award recipient is a woman, who, after
devoting 20 years of her life working in the private sector, desired to do
something that had a greater impact on the lives of others, especiall y in the lives
of those entering nontraditional careers. Retooli ng her focus, this illustrious
woman made the decision to return to college and is currentl y working on a
Master ’s in Public Policy & Administration so that she can better serve
educational entities working to improve the lives of Career and Technical Education students in
general and students with barriers to success in education.
Her commitment to assuring that all students have access to training in technology
careers makes her a prime example of what a Friend of CTEEC Award winner should be. Please
welcome Elizabeth Wallner to the stage as this year’s notable Friend of CTEEC Award winner.
Life Member Award
This year’s Life Member Award is a woman who sincerely deserves the honor. As a
champion of increasing diversity in nontraditional careers and elevating those students who wish
to enter those careers, this year’s winner tackled that complex issue by, in conjunction with the
Iowa Department of Education, Community Colleges of Iowa, and Iowa Regent Universities,
developing the first-ever Diversity in STEM conference in April of this year.
In addition to breaking ground, this woman has served as President of CTEEC and has
been active with the organization for more than 5 years. Her devotion to advancing CTEEC and
STEM goals in her own state has increased STEM awareness on a national level—her efforts
lending prestige to CTEEC that has promoted it as a reputable and responsible organization. At
the Iowa Department of Education, this year’s Life Member Award has also been an invaluable
resource for local educational facilities that might face challenges when securing Perkins grantrelated issues, so that each school can provide its students with quality STEM instruction.
The commitment this woman has made to advancing STEM as a worthy national issue is
truly remarkable and deserves recognition. Please welcome this year’s Life Member Award
winner Jeanette Thomas.