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CONGRATULATIONS!
CLASS OF 2013
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Pima County JTED
Completion Ceremony
University of Arizona
Centennial Hall
May 24, 2013
JTED's 6th Program Completion Ceremony celebrated the success of 511 students who are now on their way to promising futures. View additional photos of the event in our Facebook gallery.
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Biotech students work with
groundbreaking DNA barcoding
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JTED biotechnology students are working with cutting edge DNA analysis that may lead to treatment and possibly cures for serious illnesses someday.
Steven Uyeda's students from Sunnyside High School took a recent field trip to collect fruit tree tissue and extract DNA in order to map the trees' genealogy. The samples will be sent for DNA sequencing to GENEWIZ, a DNA services company. From there, the students develop a database of molecular markers for distinguishing local fruit trees.
This DNA barcoding helps develop an understanding of the connection between evolution and genetic traits, which is useful in the medical, agricultural, and ecological fields.
"Science is becoming increasingly more technological," said Uyeda. "And today's high school students can benefit from exposure to the power of technology in addressing complex problems."
The Kino Trees Heritage Fruit Trees Project, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and the University of Arizona work in collaboration with the students' project.
For more information, see Kino Heritage Fruit Trees.
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African refugee hopes to use JTED CNA skills to help other Somalis
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Like the hundreds of thousands of refugees before him, Aden Abdi fled war-torn Somalia for a better life in the U.S.
It worked. He has one. But now, he'd like to go back.
Following the horrors of escaping Somalia and living in a Kenyan refugee camp, Aden recently completed the Pima County JTED Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. He hopes to become an R.N., and eventually a doctor, to return to Somalia and help other refugees.
"I would like to go back to Somalia and use what I'm learning to help the refugees there one day," he said.
Abdi, 18, first moved to the U.S. when he was nine years old with his parents, grandmother and nine siblings. Today, he's a recent graduate from Pueblo Magnet High School, with his medical career already off to a healthy start.
Abdi has been asked back to Tucson Medical Center (TMC) for a second internship, participated in both the Anatomy and Health Occupations Students of America clubs, volunteers at the Somali Bantu Association of Tucson, and at Handmaker - a Jewish assisted living home. He's also applying to become a phlebotomist this summer through TMC's GO! program.
"Aden exemplifies the perfect CNA student," said JTED Nursing Services Program Manager Beth Francis, RN. "He is compassionate, emphatic and a very loving human being. He went through a tremendous amount of violence and deplorable conditions prior to him coming to our country."
Somalia has been subject to widespread violence and instability since the collapse of the central government in 1991. The UN Refugee Agency considers the conflict one of the world's worst refugee and humanitarian crises, with about 1.4 million people internally displaced.
The Arizona Daily Star also ran a story about Aden Abdi.
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JTED @ Tanque Verde FFA Awards
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Nicole Harrington's JTED @ Tanque Verde FFA students gathered with approximately 140 friends, family, and community supporters for the Annual FFA Greenhand Ceremony and Awards Banquet.
Miriam Solinsky, who recently completed her junior year and served as FFA chapter president, says her JTED experience has helped prepare her for her career choice, a veterinarian specializing in equine science.
Solinsky has competed in 10 FFA events, and will make her third trip to FFA Nationals, which will be in Louisville, Kentucky this fall. Although she has never come back from an FFA event empty-handed, Solinsky says winning awards isn't the biggest thing for her - it's the experience. She says, "The competitions and leadership camps have all helped me. Two years ago I would never be able to speak to a group of people like I am this evening."
Special thanks to event sponsors: The Pernu Family, The Solinsky Financial Group, Mr. Chris Stetson, and Culvers/The Kolsrud Family.
For more photos, friend us on Facebook and check out the FFA Greenhand Awards Album.
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JTED photo student captures
Congressional Art Award
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After winning the annual Congressional Art Competition, Jose Coronado and his parents will travel to Washington D.C. to witness Jose's digital photo, Diffused Delicacy, prominently displayed in the House of Representative's Canon Tunnel. The photo will remain on display for one year.
Rep. Grijalva selected the JTED Photo student's work as the winner of the 2013 competition. School officials say it's well deserved.
"He's one of the best artists in the nation," says Joshua Fields, Jose's Amphi High School (APHS) photography teacher.
The Cannon Tunnel connects the Cannon House Office Building with the U.S. Capitol and is traveled on a daily basis by Congress members, staff and the public. For more information, see Congressional Art Award and the Arizona Daily Star's Education notes.
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A Tavola serves etiquette education
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A Tavola is putting etiquette and the art of conversation back on the table for hundreds of high school students who are preparing to enter the business world, but have spent the majority of their lives eating fast food and communicating via text messages.
"We have business people who bring their clients here to conduct business on a daily basis," said Cindy West, catering manager at Tucson Country Club. "Being able to hold a conversation and having table manners are crucial skills. It's something you're going to use your entire life."
Chris Tweedy, a JTED Marketing and Economics student, has attended several A Tavola events. The recent Marana High School graduate said his skills came in handy when he attended a marketing conference in New York.
"Everybody's comfortable texting because it's not face-to-face," he explained. "But coming to an event like this and meeting new people is easy for me now."
Tweedy's Marketing teacher, Linda Vargo, believes changes in technology and lifestyles during the past 17 years have taken a bite out of interpersonal communication skills. However, former students repeatedly contact her saying the A Tavola training helped them tremendously with job interviews held over lunch.
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 | JTED in the News...
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We're likely the only school district that's proud of our students who are featured in the paper for Cutting Class. Read more about how Ashley Doughty fashioned a career in cosmetology in the
Northwest Explorer.
Flowing Wells Superintendent Dr. Nicolas I. Clement gives kudos to students who excel in JTED, and still make time to "dance." Read hisguest column in the Arizona Daily Star.
Fourteen JTED automotive students were recognized by the Automotive Service Association of Arizona's Tucson Chapter.
See the Arizona Daily Star for more.
The Arizona Daily Star ran an editorial calling for the state to boost, not cut, JTED funds.
The Northwest Explorer printed an editorial referencing JTED in which the author, Thelma Grimes, drew from her personal experience with her daughter.
KVOA News 4 featured our Cosmetology students and Dr. Storm in astory about the decision students make to either go to a traditional four-year college, or choose a career path through a program such as ours.
The Green Valley News and the Sahuarita Sun profiled JTED Multimedia student Miguel Sandoval.
Sixteen students from the Pima County JTED Early Childhood Education program won awards at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Championships.
Read more in the Arizona Daily Star's education section.
Candice Anderson, a Santa Rita High School sophomore enrolled in the JTED construction program, will join nearly 6,000 other high school students next month in the 48th annual SkillsUSA national competition in Kansas City, Mo. Read more about Anderson in Inside Tucson Business.
The Northwest Explorer covered Canyon del Oro graduate Trevor Dickerson's successful run to become the new DECA Western Region Vice President.
The state is delaying funding to schools, so districts take out interest-loans. JTED is the local district most affected by the funding changes. Find out more in the Arizona Daily Star.
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| If you have a story idea, comments or suggestions for The Way to Work, please contact Greg D'Anna, Director of Public Relations.
Sincerely,
Greg D'Anna,
Editor, The Way to Work
Ann Jaress
Writer, The Way to Work |
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