Pictured right is Joi Sullivan, the 2014 Career Research and Development (CRD) Student of the Year, with her supervisor Sandra Carr, left, who manages the print shop at North Point High School and oversees Sullivan in her job duties.
Joi Sullivan, a senior at North Point High School, was named the Career Research and Development (CRD) Student of the Year for 2014 at the annual employer/employee breakfast held April 24. Sullivan has worked in the print shop at North Point since August 2013 and is responsible for assisting with several job functions such as printing requested documents, ordering supplies and arranging equipment repairs.
Sullivan was selected for the award following three levels of competition both at the school and county levels. Committees composed of staff members, community members and business representatives interviewed students. Sandra Carr is the print technician at North Point and supervises the print shop and Sullivan. In a nomination letter written earlier this year, Carr said Sullivan demonstrates a high level of maturity and strong worth ethic.
“I have known Joi for the past seven months, during which time she has worked under extremely stressful and demanding conditions. Joi always stays calm, composed, cheerful and ready to help everyone with a smile on her face. She goes above and beyond every day,” Carr wrote in her letter. In addition to working in the North Point print shop, Sullivan is the 2014 senior class liaison and a member of the Air Force ROTC. She holds the rank of commander and leads the drill team in competitions. She also leads the Pledge of Allegiance daily in the morning announcements and is a member of her church’s dance team.
One student finalist for the overall award was chosen from each high school. In addition to Sullivan from North Point, these students were chosen as finalists: Keith Brevard, Henry E. Lackey High School; Devin Borror, La Plata High School; Andranay Peyton, Maurice J. McDonough High School; Emily Niner, Thomas Stone High School; and Parris Johnson, Westlake High School.
Employers and student employees gathered at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center on April 24 for the annual breakfast. More than 135 students participated in the 2013-14 school year program and about 90 different employers supervised the students. The CRD program was formerly known as the Cooperative Education program, and provides a bridge from school to work, classroom instruction, work experience and on-the-job training related to a student’s career goals.
The cooperative education program was launched in 1971 at La Plata and Lackey high schools, expanded to Thomas Stone in 1972 and then to McDonough in 1979. Westlake started offering the program in 1998. North Point launched the program in 2009 with its first senior class. High school students interested in the program can contact the CRD coordinator at their school.
Craik teams earn first place in Elementary Math Challenge
Two teams from Dr. James Craik Elementary School earned the top spots in the Elementary Math Challenge, held Saturday, April 26 at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. The event is for fourth- and fifth-grade students and is a two-part mathematics challenge that includes both team and individual competitions. Teams from all Charles County public elementary schools competed. The team challenge requires each team to solve four reasoning and problem solving questions within a 30-minute period.
Pictured is a team from Dr. James Craik Elementary School who won first place among 21 competing fourth-grade teams in the Elementary Math Challenge held April 26. From left, front row, are students Eileen Browning, Tanner Broadwater, Param Jhala and Hannah Krauel. Back row, from left, are Jason Haley, Rico Harley and Sky Pemberton.
Craik’s fourth-grade team earned first place with a score of 400 out of 21 competing teams. Team members are Tanner Broadwater, Eileen Browning, Jason Haley, Rico Harley, Param Jhala, Hannah Krauel and Sky Pemberton. The team coach is Craik fourth-grade teacher Michelle Daggett. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School’s fourth-grade team won second place, followed by a team from Mary H. Matula Elementary School in third place.
Pictured is a team from Dr. James Craik Elementary School who won first place among 21 competing fifth-grade teams in the Elementary Math Challenge held April 26. From left are students Connor Cox, Thomas Lesko, Dylan Price, Iris Golden, Jordan Ball, Aidan Hoffman and Andrew Deeds.
Craik’s fifth-grade team earned first place with a score of 472 out of 21 competing teams. Team members are Jordan Ball, Connor Cox, Andrew Deeds, Iris Golden, Aidan Hoffman, Thomas Lesko and Dylan Price. The team coach is Craik fifth-grade teacher Suzette Hahn. William B. Wade Elementary School’s fifth-grade team won second place, followed by a team from Matula in third place.
In the individual portion of the competition, each team member takes a test of 30 math problems and has 30 minutes to complete them. This year, the individual challenge was completed online. The top five individual scores are added to the team score to compute a team’s overall score.
Nate Allen from Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School was named the first-place individual winner with a score of 83 at the fourth-grade level. There was a three-way tie for first place in the fifth-grade individual challenge. Robert Polk from William A. Diggs Elementary School, Grady Klaas from Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School and Emily Smith from Mitchell tied for first place with a score of 90 points.
The top five teams, as well as the top three individuals, at each grade level received a plaque and the top scoring student on each team received a medal. All competing students received a participant ribbon. The annual event is sponsored by the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO).