MCEF NAMES JANUARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

RECOGNITION CELEBRATES TOP-PERFORMING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

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

Selected from MCEF’s four districts are Markeveon Brown of Thomas C. Randle Career and Technical Center (Belzoni), Kelby Holder of Greene County Vocational Technical Center, Hannah Knight of Pearl/Rankin Career and Technical Center, and Tristan Sanford,of Tippah Career and Technology 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.”

Eager to jump in on all fronts, Brown serves his center as a SkillsUSA competitor, student ambassador and coordinator for special events, campus tours, and other activities. Setting him apart are his leadership skills and exemplary character, which instructors say combine to help create a positive school environment and example for other students. He plans to attend Hinds Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College with his sights set on becoming a HVAC technician.

Active in SkillsUSA and FFA, Holder inspired her FFA teammates to first-place honors in the opening and closing 2017 and 2018 district competitions. She makes a difference in her community, volunteering often with her church and supporting local initiatives like the creation of a petting zoo for special needs children. A nominee for the Greene County High School Hall of Fame, she will attend a to-be-determined college upon graduation.

Knight touts a 3.9 grade point average while managing a full schedule of activities that includes representing Pearl High School in golf, karate, theatre and show choir. Still she finds time to volunteer at Crossgates Animal Clinic and the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce. Upon graduation, Knight plans to study animal science at Mississippi State University with hopes of one day running her own veterinarian clinic.

Demonstrating a willingness to learn, follow, and lead in the classroom, Sanford is an accomplished career and technical education student. Active in his community, he is involved in his church, where he helps with children’s programs, local visitation and nursing home visits to those who can no longer travel to church. Sanford plans to pursue a degree in construction/carpentry with hopes of securing his own insurance company.

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.