Senior Molly Donnellan received the Annual Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program students, during the awards ceremony at the Lasker Auditorium Thursday, Jan. 30.

The four seniors nominated for the award by their teachers included graphic communications major Carolina Darcy, early education and care major Donnellan, culinary major Emily Hurley, and automotive major Kellen McGarry Partridge. The nominees were recognized for their achievements and dedication by Principal Henry Turner and CTE program director Kathleen Duff.

Donnellan said, “I really love the hands-on aspect of career and tech ed, and especially for ours, we get to implement a curriculum that we learn and that we prepare for the children.” 

Like all CTE students, Donnellan began with a semester-long exploratory class, then progressed to a full year in Major I, two blocks in Major II, and three blocks as well as WIN blocks in Major III. 

According to Duff, in order to be eligible for nomination, the seniors have to meet qualifications such as a minimum of a 3.5 weighted GPA, excellent attendance, leadership qualities, community involvement, and work experience related to the student’s career area of study.

According to early education and care teacher Michelle Ramsdell, Donnellan has made significant progress throughout her highschool career.

“Her knowledge of children, her knowledge of the field of education and what it means to care for children and educate young children has grown exponentially over the years,” Ramsdell said.

“It’s not always about the best skilled in the class, it’s about the best overall in the class, like they have the skill, they have the dedication, they have the leadership,” said Duff.

In addition to Donnellan’s dedication to the Early Education and Care program, Ramsdell said that she is creative and well-rounded, participating in athletics, photographing sporting events, and being involved in the community.=

According to Donnellan, she will use the skills that she has learned from the early education and care program in the future.

“I’m still deciding on what school to go to, but I will be going to get my teacher’s certification in elementary education hopefully and become a kindergarten teacher,” she added.

North has seven CTE programs, including automotive, carpentry, culinary, drafting, early education and care, graphic communications, and TV media arts, although not all programs nominated students for the award this year.