Press Release - NASDCTEc's Stars of Education Award Winners Announced

March 23, 2007
For Immediate Release

For immediate release

Contact: Kimberly Green, (202)737-0303

Washington, DC (March 23, 2007)—The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) has selected, based on their outstanding and extraordinary contributions to the field of career technical education, its 2007 Star of Education Awards winners.

NASDCTEc’s annual Star of Education Awards are given to those who have helped raise the level of excellence in career technical education through their dedicated work, achievements as a student, business practices, or teaching abilities. The winners were honored on Friday, March 23rd, 2007 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, DC.

Group Picture

The award winners are as follows:

• Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY), for his leadership in the Senate to ensure the successful reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, is a recipient of the NASDCTEc 2007 Distinguished Service – Congressional award. Senator Enzi was instrumental in securing provisions aligning career technical education with the needs of the workforce in recognition of the growing issue of global competitiveness. Beth Buehlmann accepted Senator Enzi’s award.


• Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA-6), for taking a key role in the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, is a recipient of the NASDCTEc 2007 Distinguished Service – Congressional award. Representative Woolsey offered a vital amendment that ensured states would have sufficient administrative funding to carry out their increased responsibilities under the new law and has been an outspoken advocate for increases in education funding.


• Dr. Ronald E. Thomas, President of Dakota County Technical College, created Minnesota’s first two-year Nanoscience Technology A.A.S. degree and has developed important relationships with business and industry to benefit Minnesota students. Dr. Thomas is a recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service – Educator award.


• Mr. Marion Fletcher, Program Manager for Agriculture, Science, and Technology and is Arkansas’ State Future Farmers of America Advisor, is the recipient of a 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service- Educator award for his 43 years of tireless work in agriculture education and for being a leader in raising standards in agriculture education in Arkansas and throughout the nation.


• The Lockheed Martin Corporation is the recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service-Business, Industry, Labor Organization, or Association award. In addition to their other numerous contributions to education, Lockheed Martin Corporation staff members have worked to secure over $30,000 of corporate funding to send a team of Montgomery County Public Schools administrators and teachers to the South-East Consortium for Minorities in Engineering Summer Leadership Institutes in 2004, 2005, and 2006.Kathy Oliver accepted the award on behalf of Lockheed Martin.


• Mr. Roman Budzinski, Vice President of Printing & Graphics Association MidAtlantic (PGAMA), is the recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service – Individual award. Due to the efforts of Mr. Budzinski, Maryland now has 17 printing and graphics programs in the process applying for, or have received accreditation. Kathy Oliver accepted the award for Mr. Budzinski.


• Mr. F. Martin Nikirk, Advanced Computer Applications Instructor at Washington County High Technical High School, is the recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service – Secondary Teacher award developing a Computer Game Development and Animation program in Hagerstown, Maryland that has drawn the praise of Microsoft executives and has received national recognition.


• Mr. R. Terry Wolfe, Automotive Department Coordinator for the Community College of Baltimore County, is the recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service – Postsecondary Instructor award for his leadership at CCBC, resulting in his program receiving ASE certification through 2008.


• Miss Kendal Stuart, President of the Virginia Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, who is the only student chosen in Virginia FCCLA history to serve three years on the state Board of Directors and has been recognized nationally as a Power of One National Completer three times, is the recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service- Secondary Student award.


• Mr. Nathan Tapp, Arkansas FFA State Vice President, is the recipient of the 2007 NASDCTEc Distinguished Service – Postsecondary Student award. In addition to being Arkansas’ State FFA Vice President, Mr. Tapp has been an active member in 4-H, the Farm Bureau, the Block and Bridle Club, the Ag Business Club, and Chi Alpha, all while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average at the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.

In congratulating the award winners on their hard work and achievements, NASDCTEc Executive Director Kimberly Green said: “These exemplary organizations and individuals represent the best in career technical education. All of our winners are working to ensure that the United States has the workers needed to ensure American companies can remain competitive in the global economy. Congratulations to each and every winner. They are truly stars of education.”

Founded in 1920, the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium is the Washington DC-based professional society of the state and territory agency heads responsible for career technical education. The state directors are committed to leadership and results. The association has a growing membership of over 200 members who share the State Directors’ commitment to quality education at the secondary, post secondary and adult levels.

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