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Students Get a Jump-Start on Careers at This Popular Event
By Myles Barker
Published 6 years ago on
February 22, 2019

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Buchanan senior Luke Fennacy wants to become a surgeon. Heโ€™s enrolled in the patient care career pathway at Clovis North High School but didnโ€™t know the focused learning option existed until midway through his junior year.
The inaugural Career Technical Education Expo hosted Thursday night by Clovis Unified would have definitely been helpful, he said.
โ€œWith a CTE event like this, you can find out all of the options that are available before you register for classes,โ€ Fennacy said.
Clovis High senior Jantzen Karageozian couldnโ€™t agree more.
โ€œThis event does a great job of opening your eyes to what you might want to do,โ€ Karageozian said.

Shortage of Workers in Many Fields

The other goal of the expo is to address the growing shortage of workers in technical and vocational fields, said CTE Director Chuck Sandoval.
โ€œThere is a little bit of a negative stigma with vocational education,โ€ Sandoval said. โ€œWhat we want students to understand is that CTE is an opportunity to learn about a specific skill so when you graduate you will be able to go work or go to college.โ€
All 18 of Clovis Unifiedโ€™s CTE pathways were on display at the expo, which was held at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District.


โ€œThis event does a great job of opening your eyes to what you might want to do.โ€ โ€” Jantzen Karageozian, Clovis High senior
Programs included construction, automotive repair, culinary arts and agriculture.

Preparing Students for Their Future

Hundreds of students and their parents were intrigued by all of the options available.
โ€œI canโ€™t think of anything we donโ€™t have, โ€ said Superintendent Eimear Oโ€™Farrell.
Clovis East teacher Aireal Covey said there is definitely something for everyone.
โ€œA lot of students donโ€™t realize how many opportunities they have in their education,โ€ Covey said. โ€œThis event helps them to see what they can be doing now to begin preparing for their future.โ€


โ€œA lot of students donโ€™t realize how many opportunities they have in their education. This event helps them to see what they can be doing now to begin preparing for their future.โ€ โ€” Aireal Covey Clovis East teacher
Fennacy said the pathways are also a great way to get invaluable experience while still in high school.
โ€œWe are able to follow, shadow and observe a lot of what happens in the hospital in the patient care pathway,โ€ said Fennacy.
Fennacy said his favorite part of the pathway is being able to observe surgeries taking place. โ€œIt is a great, fun opportunity and really exhilarating.โ€
Ever since Brooke Bentley enrolled in the animal science pathway, she never looked back.
โ€œI really enjoy the responsibility aspect of having to take care of an animal,โ€ said Bentley, a senior at Clovis East. โ€œThat sparked my interest in wanting to be a veterinarian.โ€
Karageozian said the districtโ€™s firefighting pathway is definitely giving him a head start in his career.
โ€œIt is a great program, and it has really taught me a lot about firefighting,โ€ he said.

Bigger Expo Planned Next Year

The goal for next yearโ€™s CTE expo, Sandoval said, is to invite industry partners, colleges and businesses.
โ€œWe are definitely looking to expand,โ€ he said.

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