National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1090


For Immediate Release

Webcast Panel of Student Leaders Presents
The Value of Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)

Beto Gonzales, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult 
Education, U.S. Department of Education, will moderate the panel 
discussion, "CTSOs' Role in Integrating Academic, Technical, and 
Employability Skills," from Washington, DC, on Thursday, February 16, 2006, 
from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., in celebration of Career and Technical Education 
Week. This interactive event, and previous webcasts, can be viewed on any 
computer with Internet access at http://www.nccte.org.

Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are an integral part of 
career and technical education programs. They are dedicated to making a 
positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their 
potential for professional and community leadership, personal growth, and 
career success through career and technical education (CTE). The national 
leaders of these youth organizations are outstanding young men and women 
who have been elected by their peers to national leadership positions.

This lively Web event will highlight the views of high school students who 
are enrolled in CTE programs and are officers of the national student 
organizations. Their discussion will focus on the advantages of a CTE 
education, and how CTE instruction is enhanced by specific CTSO activities. 
Areas to be covered include the value of CTSOs in service learning, 
academic enhancement, professional development, citizenship and advocacy, 
businesseducation partnerships, industry standards benchmarking, and 
resource management.

Panel members include the following CTSO officers: Katy Galambos of Oak 
Ridge, TN, National President, Technology Student Association (TSA); Shane 
S. Hageman of Remington, IN, 20032004 Indiana State President, National FFA 
Organization; Sierra Jenkins of Charlotte, TN, National President-Elect, 
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA); Billy Plastine of Edison, 
NJ, National President, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America 
(FCCLA); Ross Squires of Middleton, WI, National President, Future Business 
Leaders of America (FBLA); Stephanie Usry of Cheyenne, WY, National 
President, SkillsUSA; and Jennifer Vaziralli of Virginia Beach, VA, 
National President, DECA.

Viewers of the webcast may ask questions of the panel by signing up (at no 
charge) for a chatroom account at http://www.nccte.org. The chatroom allows 
you to submit questions during the presentation. Please allow one full day 
for your account to be validated by e-mail confirmation.


To subscribe to this e-mail list, please visit this web page: 
http://www.nccte.org/ctemail/subscription.asp or send an e-mail to 
nagy.8 at osu.edu or contact Barbara Reardon below.


The work reported herein was supported under the National Dissemination 
Center for Career and Technical Education (PR/Award No. VO51A990004) and/or 
under the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education 
(PR/Award No. VO51A990006), as administered by the Office of Vocational and 
Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents do not 
necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Office of Vocational 
and Adult Education or the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not 
assume endorsement by the federal government. The National Dissemination 
Center for Career and Technical Education and the National Research Center 
for Career and Technical Education are funded by the Office of Vocational 
and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education.


For Additional Information Contact:
Barbara Reardon
The Ohio State University
Director of Communications
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1090
Phone: 614-292-2894
Fax: 614-688-3258
Email: reardon.30 at osu.edu
Web site: www.nccte.org