PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – On Tuesday, May 8, the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) honored 43 high school students, representing 25 schools in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, with the Students of Excellence Awards for their outstanding achievement in their CTE/ROP (Career Technical Education/Regional Occupational Program) classes. The esteemed students were each awarded a certificate of merit and a $300.00 scholarship award. This year’s monetary donations were provided by Chevron, Phillips 66, John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Honda, C & H Sugar.
Held at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, an audience of close to 300 were on hand for this special event. Along with the honored students and their families, attendees also included the students’ CTE/ROP teachers and the educational program’s business-partnership representatives. Prior to honoring the students, the welcome remarks were made by Contra Costa County Deputy Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey, CCCOE Director of Student Programs Jane Haun, Contra Costa County Board of Education Member Christine Deane, and Assembly Field Representative Charles Dulac (15th District).
Deputy Superintendent Mackey individually presented the awards and checks to each student on stage, followed by a short speech from each of the awardees. The honored students were each accompanied to the stage by their nominating CTE/ROP teacher. The common themes of the heart-felt speeches were their gratitude of their parents and families, as well as their appreciation for their CTE/ROP courses and teachers. Many of the students said their CTE/ROP courses were the highlight of coming to school, and that the classes made their future career goals much clearer.
The Contra Costa County CTE/ROP serves nearly 12,000 students annually with classes in 34 high schools throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Currently, there are 383 state-of-the-art career development classes in this program. CTE/ROP focuses on career preparation and exploration, hands-on experience, and academic excellence to prepare students for success in college and future careers. CTE/ROP provides students with the newest equipment, rigorous academic standards, and classes in emerging technologies. All of the CTE/ROP classes and programs are directed by and funded through the CCCOE. For more information about CTE/ROP classes, visit their website
The following outstanding students will receive certificates of merit plus $300.00 in scholarship awards.
(See below for listing of student names, their school, and their CTE/ROP course – listed alphabetical by city)
ALBANY
- Albany High School
- Shiloe Skeeling-Peña, Sports Medicine
ANTIOCH
Antioch High School
- Audrey Brady, Careers in Teaching
- Chelsea Mullins, Art & Animation
Emmanuel Madrigal, Television Productions
Deer Valley High School
- Krystal Balajadia, Play Production
- Emmanuel Madrigal, Television Productions
- Emmanuel Obinyan, Marketing
Dozier-Libbey High School
- Stephanie Roman, Advanced Sports Medicine
BERKELEY
Berkeley High School
- Sofia Kniveton-Insogna, Advanced Digital Photography
BRENTWOOD
Heritage High School
- Caitlyn Graves, Law Enforcement Careers
- Colby Reyburn, Digital Recording Studio
- Alexis Tongue, Art of Video Production
- Zachary Welker, TV Broadcasting Productions
CONCORD
Clayton Valley Charter High School
- Georgia Moraes, Developmental Psychology of Children
Concord High School
- Karla Avalos, Computer Applications
- Medaja Elias, Accounting
- Meagan McBride, Advanced Photography
Ygnacio Valley High School
- Sara Hernandez, Careers in Teaching Internship
DANVILLE
Monte Vista High School
- Rebecca McCourt, AP Environmental Science
San Ramon Valley High School
- Tyler Colman, AP Computer Science Principles
- Zachary LeClaire, AP Computer Science A
EL CERRITO
El Cerrito High School
- Stephanie Baer, Broadcast Journalism
- Madelyn Arechiga Smith, Advanced Communications Media
EMERYVILLE
Emery High School
- Rashmeet Kaur, Publications
MARTINEZ
Alhambra High School
- Aidan LaHonta, Construction Technology
- Sam Millson, Creative Writing
- Josh Peacock, Auto Technology
MORAGA
Campolindo High School
- Brigitte Marinier, Advanced Sports Medicine
OAKLEY
Freedom High School
- Allison Gaul, Careers with Children
PINOLE
Pinole Valley High School
Rose Figueroa, Law Enforcement Careers
Christine Tran, Sports Medicine
PITTSBURG
Pittsburg High School
Jose Martinez, Auto Technology
Christian Rodriguez, Computer Graphic Arts
RICHMOND
Kennedy High School
Jaime Mendoza, Digital Photography
Richmond High School
Miguel De La Cruz, Play Production
SAN RAMON
California High School
- Tanya Aggarwal, AP Computer Science A
- Emma Hall, Journalism
- Drew Halvorson, Careers in Teaching
- Shannon Lee, Human Body System
- Bethany Long, Engineering Research & Development
Dougherty Valley High School
- Suchit Bandaram, AP Computer Science
WALNUT CREEK
Las Lomas High School
- Cristina Garcia, Medical Technologies
Northgate High School
- Tracy Pan, Sports Medicine
- Jack Wise, Journalism Productions
