Dedicated to postsecondary workforce readiness, Littleton Public Schools has a robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that supports a variety of nationally recognized Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). LPS currently sponsors Colorado DECA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), HOSA Future Health Professionals and Colorado Technology Student Association (COTSA). Additionally, through CTE, the district sponsors Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE). These organizations give students an opportunity to explore real-world career paths while building leadership skills in a competitive environment. At the end of February, students from HOSA, DECA, TSA and ACE attended state conferences/competitions and did extremely well.
At this year’s Colorado Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference in Loveland, fifty-four students from LPS’ Health Science Technology Program were in attendance. Twenty-four students qualified for the National Student Competition by placing first, second or third in their event and another 31 LPS students placed top 10 in the state. Additionally, program teacher Heidi Mahn was recognized as Advisor of the Year.
Students from all three of the district’s high schools attended the 2015 DECA State Competition in Colorado Springs. A marketing competition, Arapahoe High School had six national qualifiers as well as 16 students who placed top 10 in the state. Heritage High School also had six national qualifiers and one additional student who placed top 10 in the state. Littleton High School had three students qualify as alternates for nationals and 20 students place top 10 in the state. Littleton also had a student who was elected to be a DECA State Officer.
The 2015 Colorado TSA State Conference was the largest to date with nearly 1400 students in attendance. More than 200 middle school and high school students from Goddard, Euclid, Arapahoe, Heritage and Littleton were in attendance. As with the other CTSO competitions, LPS students did extremely well. In the middle school category, Goddard earned 2nd place among all middle school chapters in Colorado and had 24 national qualifiers. Euclid earned 3rd place in the middle school category with 16 national qualifiers. In the high school category, Arapahoe had two national qualifiers, Heritage had seven and Littleton had six. Littleton also had a student who was elected to be a TSA State Officer.
The ACE Challenge offered an opportunity for students in the ACE program to compete in categories such as Travel and Tourism, Personal Finance, Job Interview, Human Relations and Event Planning. Students received a gold, silver or bronze medal for their presentation or activity. Among students from Heritage, Littleton and LPS’ Options Program, students received 14 gold medals, nine silver medals and four bronze medals.
Mimi Leonard, the district’s Career and Technical Education Coordinator was beyond thrilled with the success of these students at their varying competitions. Speaking at a South Metro Chamber Luncheon, Leonard reiterated the district’s dedication to preparing students for postsecondary careers and the importance of these organizations in teaching students valuable leadership skills.