MCEF NAMES DECEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

RECOGNITION CELEBRATES TOP-PERFORMING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
  • December 4, 2018

PEARL ― The Mississippi Construction Education Foundation is recognizing four career and technical education standouts as its students of the month for December

Selected from MCEF’s four districts are Kyle Albritton of Jackson County Technology Center, Jake Brownlee of Tupelo Career Technical Center, Byron Coburn of Philadelphia Neshoba County Career Technical Center, and Kolby Polk of Simpson County Career and Technical Center.

Winners are chosen based on grades, attendance, discipline in class, outstanding achievements, leadership abilities, and post-graduation plans. All will compete for student of the year honors at the foundation’s annual awards program next May.

“We congratulate our student of the month winners for being such excellent representatives of high school career tech programs in Mississippi,” said Mike Barkett, MCEF president. “We’re proud of each of them for helping ensure our state has a highly skilled workforce to support the state’s growing construction and manufacturing industries.”

Recognized for his hard work and impressive academic performance, Albritton is a member of his school’s competitive welding Fab team and is certified through the National Center for Construction Education and Research. He serves as leader of the St. Martin High School Bass Club, corps commander and top leader for JROTC, and three-year letter winner with the varsity archery team. Albritton plans to study welding at an area community college.

As a first-year student, Brownlee is already earning the praise of instructors who describe him as reliable, dependable and hardworking. Through his impressive hands-on learning style, he exhibits a passion for career and technical education that sets him apart as one of his school’s top carpentry students. Brownlee’s plans call for attending a four-year college upon graduation.

Of significance are Coburn’s leadership skills, which place him on the student panel for his center’s advisory meeting and as a participant in the Construction Career Day recruitment initiative for future students. He is a member of the Philadelphia High School varsity football team, the archery team, and the band. Coburn plans on pursuing a career and technical degree in electrical engineering from East Central Community College.

Polk earned first place honors at the regional SkillsUSA 2017 competition for cabinet making as well as the NCCER Award for scoring proficiency on the state assessment in construction. He is a member of the BETA Club, FCCLA and the band at Mendenhall High School, where he also competes as a member of soccer and archery teams. Polk plans to earn his associate degree in construction from East Central Community College.

MCEF is a non-profit educational foundation that provides NCCER craft training and credentialing in more than 100 career and technical programs across the state. The foundation’s mission is to train individuals for the construction and manufacturing industries in Mississippi.

MCEF also offers workforce training and credentialing in construction, industrial maintenance and manufacturing trades.