Student Organizations

At Central Westmoreland CTC students have the ability to join an organization that fits them. These organizations are designed to help students reach their fullest potential in an academic career. The organizations have team building activities and competitions that the students can participate in and that can often lead to scholarships. Click on one of the student organizations in the menu to learn more.

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national student organization that develops employability, participatory and leadership skills to complement the occupational skills developed by students in technical education classrooms or work-based learning sites. SkillsUSA is an integral part of approved technical education occupation programs.

SkillsUSA Purpose…

To unite in a common bond all students enrolled in trade, industrial, technical and health occupations education
To develop leadership abilities through participation in educational, vocational, civic, recreational and social activities
To foster a deep respect for the dignity of work
To assist students in establishing realistic vocational goals
To help students attain a purposeful life
To create enthusiasm for learning
To promote high standards in trade ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety
To develop the ability of students to plan together, organize and carry out worthy activities and projects through the use of the democratic process
To foster a wholesome understanding of the functions of labor and management organizations and a recognition of their mutual interdependence
To create among students, faculty members, patrons of the school and persons in business and labor a sincere interest in the esteem for trade, industrial, technical and health occupations
To develop patriotism through knowledge of our nation’s heritage and the practice of democracy

Vex Robotics

Join the Road Dogs team here at CWCTC. CWCTC Students from different school districts incorporate teamwork. This is done through the interaction of skills learned together to create a competitive “task oriented” vehicle robot through communication of design and workmanship. Pride from students enrolled in other programs at our school including but not limited to, Computer & Info Science, Welding, Metal Fabrication, Machining Trades, Graphic Arts, Carpentry and Auto Collision, is quite evident.

Our Mission…

We create tools that educators and mentors will use to shape the learners of today into the problem solving leaders of tomorrow.

Our vision…

We envision a world where every student has the opportunity to be inspired by the excitement of hands-on STEM learning and knows the feeling of creating something with technology. We want people of all ages and backgrounds to recognize that creative problem solving is fun and see its importance in shaping a better future.

National Technical Honor Society (NTHS)

School is the basis of learning and knowledge that is applied all throughout life. The amount of knowledge available is overwhelming. Vocational students can take this knowledge to the next level by learning the skills that will enable them to apply this knowledge to their work. The benefits of a vocational education are great. Now, some of these students are getting the chance to get rewarded for their efforts. The National Technical Honor Society can take students to higher levels and reward them for all of their hard work and devotion. Since 1984, this organization has grown to 1500 member schools and colleges around the world.

This non-profit organization follows a five-point purpose that describes the organization.

To reward excellence in workforce education
To develop self-esteem, pride and encourage students to reach for higher levels of achievement
To promote business and industry’s critical work-place values – honesty, responsibility, initiative, teamwork, productivity, leadership, and citizenship
To help schools build and maintain effective partnerships with local business and industry
To champion a stronger, more positive image for workforce education in America

The student has many responsibilities when applying and while a member of the organization. When applying, the student has to have a 3.0 or higher grade point average. They cannot miss more than three days of school per grading period and recommendations by their program teacher and two other teachers of their choice are required.

The pledge also describes the obligations and responsibilities of an applicant or a member.
The pledge is,

Maintain the highest standard of personal and professional conduct at all times;
Strive for excellence in all aspects of my education and employment;
Refuse to engage in or condone activities for personal gain at the expense of my fellow students, my school or my employer;
Support the mission and purposes of NTHS while working to achieve the objectives and goals of the society; and
Fulfill my obligations as a citizen of my community and of my country.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

CWCTC students have the choice to join the Students Against Destructive Decisions Organization. SADD believes that to find the solutions to the big issues our teens are dealing with, the teens themselves must have a voice and they must be part of the solution. SADD exists to empower teens, to provide the tools they need to inspire positive action, to become leaders and role models, and to create a community-based approach to addressing the most critical issues that face teens today.

Automobile crashes remain the number one killer of teens and until that statistic changes, SADD’s core focus will be in traffic safety. However, we know that underlying issues often exist, which can influence driving behavior and decision making. We care about those issues, as well. Our students have a voice and they have asked for tools to address these other issues, including substance abuse, depression, suicide, and teen violence and bullying.

With an estimated 10,000 chapters and 400,000+ SADD students across the country, plus millions of alumni, the work we do has the potential to create the change our young people want to see in the world!

ProStart

Our culinary program participates in the ProStart competitions with national and local support from industry members, educators, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and state restaurant association partners. ProStart® reaches nearly 140,000 students in more than 1,800 high schools across 50 states, the Territory of Guam and at Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific.

How ProStart Works

By bringing the industry and classroom together, ProStart gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents to open doors for fulfilling careers. It happens through a curriculum that includes all facets of the industry, and sets a high standard of excellence for students and the industry.

ProStart National Certificate of Achievement

Students who have completed the requirements of the ProStart program are awarded an industry-recognized certificate – the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement. To earn the certificate, students pass two national exams, demonstrate a mastery of foundational skills and work 400 mentored hours.

Students who receive the certificate are eligible for NRAEF scholarship opportunities and course credits at more than 75 of the country’s leading hospitality and culinary arts colleges and universities.

National Automotive Competition

The National Automotive Technology Competition is a test of skill, a measure of knowledge, and a race against the clock – all rolled into one. It features the nation’s best high school automotive education students from across the country competing for the title of The Nation’s

More about National Automotive Technology Competition…

This nationally recognized competition, was developed in 1993 by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association to help curb the shortage of qualified automotive technicians and raise the level of vocational education standards in the public school system.

This year more than $3 million in prizes and scholarships will be awarded to participating students and schools thanks to the generous support of almost every major automaker, industry suppliers, local dealerships, and dealers associations. Best Automotive Technician.