Two Licking Heights seniors have found success with C-TEC of Licking County’s Electronic and Computer Technology secondary program–which might even earn them national recognition.
Roshika Chapagai and Emily McCord were both nominated by C-TEC administrators to compete in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Presidential Scholars Program, which “recognizes and honors some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors…who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.”
Both students have also found success with SkillsUSA, a national skilled trades association for high school students. SkillsUSA hosts competitions at the local, state and national level for CTE students to demonstrate knowledge in their fields. Chapagai currently serves as President of C-TEC’s SkillsUSA chapter, and as such will advance to the 2024 state competition.
McCord, meanwhile, was selected to advance at the state level for Presidential Scholars.
McCord realized she wanted to pursue technology after taking web design classes and working in the fabrication laboratory (Fab Lab) at Licking Heights. She is particularly interested in circuits and soldering. Her ultimate goal is to become a cybersecurity analyst, and after graduating she wants to study either computer science or computer engineering in college.
Chapagai was inspired to pursue technology watching her dad work in information technology. After learning about data analytics at C-TEC, she started thinking about how she could combine her passions for technology and business after graduating.
“What I really want to do is data analytics in a business company and become a CEO one day. I love working in business, marketing, and accounting,” she says. “As a junior, I had the opportunity to network with Intel and present about what we do at C-TEC. In the 50 years of C-TEC, I was the first student who got to do those things and represent our school.”
As a woman in business and technology, Chapagai hopes to inspire other women in her family to pursue skilled trades and carve a path for them to follow. She is the first woman in her family to choose a career path in IT.
“Women have a lot of power and energy, and we don’t get opportunities as much in technical business,” she says.
Outside of earning their requirements for graduation and learning a trade, students at C-TEC have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials and develop leadership skills. McCord, who is president of the National Technical Honor Society, says she has earned credentials in Fanuc HandlingTool Operation and Programming and CompTIA A+. She also has competed in Girls Who Code and the JP Morgan Generation Tech Competition. Outside of her involvement in SkillsUSA, Chapagai was president of her lab as a junior.
Both Chapagai and McCord agree that hands-on CTE education is crucial to help students determine what they want to do in their life.
“Instead of waiting to choose a career in college and spending thousands of dollars before they learn if they like it, students can get a trial run in a place like C-TEC,” McCord says. “Before C-TEC…I really didn't know what I wanted to do, but as I slowly got more involved, I realized that I enjoyed what I was learning.”
“I really like how C-TEC gives you the opportunity to show yourself off. They make you step up and develop leadership skills,” Chapagai adds. “When I came to C-TEC, I saw my whole entire lab wanted the same thing as me. You work with people with the same skills and mindset as you, and we all just push each other to our goals.”