CTC Career Talk
January 2026
The Community Foundation of Frederick County is committed to supporting students who are seeking career education and training outside of traditional post-secondary schooling. Scholarships are available for qualifying students who apply through the Community Foundation’s online application that opens on November 15.
Thanks to generous donors who have created charitable funds, scholarship support is available for Frederick County residents to help pay for training at an accredited trade or technical program as well as certification exams, tools and other necessary supplies for study and work in the trades. The online scholarship application remains open until the funds are depleted or until the application closes on May 1, 2026.
For details or to apply go to: Scholarships - The Community Foundation of Frederick County
Congratulations to Emma Holler: QuestBridge Match Scholarship Winner 🏅
We are thrilled to celebrate Biomedical Science student Emma Holler, who has been selected as a QuestBridge Match Scholar and matched with Columbia University, where she will attend on a full four-year scholarship. This is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to Emma’s dedication, academic excellence, and passion for science.
At Columbia, Emma plans to major in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Mathematics. She has set her sights on a future career in psychiatry or neurology, fields where her strong scientific foundation and curiosity about the brain and human behavior will undoubtedly make a meaningful impact.
Interested in QuestBridge?
QuestBridge is a highly selective national college admissions program that connects outstanding high school students with leading universities. The application process typically begins in the spring of junior year and includes a comprehensive application with academic records, essays, recommendations, and information about extracurricular involvement. Students who are selected as finalists can be matched with partner colleges through an early admissions process or continue on to apply during regular decision. Current juniors who are motivated, academically strong, and interested in attending one of the 55 QuestBridge partner universities are encouraged to explore QuestBridge and begin preparing early. Find out more at The Match Scholarship | QuestBridge.
We are incredibly proud of Emma and can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes in this next chapter.
🎤 Rotary Club 4-Way Speech Contest 🎤
👰Attention Juniors & Seniors,
The Rotary Club of Frederick is offering cash prizes 💵 for a speech contest.
🏆1st place= $500
🏆2nd place= $425
🏆3rd place= $350
🏆4th place=$300
Each school and CTC can only send one student per school to the competition. So, if you want to represent CTC, here’s what you need to do:
Your speech may be on any subject, but it must incorporate all aspects of the Rotary Four Way Test, including these exact words: Of the things we think, say or do…
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Speeches must be between five minutes and six minutes in length.
The speech must be memorized (limited reference to notecards is permissible).
Any CTC junior or senior who wishes to compete in the in-person Speech contest must register on the “sign-up sheet” in the Guidance office. The CTC competition, if necessary, will be held on February 6th.
The winner at CTC will go on to compete in front of the Frederick Rotary Club judges on February 12, 2026 starting at 7:00PM at Hood College.
If you need more information, please contact the front office.
Safe Actions Save Lives Themed Poster Contest
Students are invited to create a poster that highlights how drivers should behave to keep workers, other drivers, and passengers safe while driving through construction zones as part of the Maryland Work Zone Safety Poster Contest. Students from all grades and ages can submit until February 20, 2026. Students should consider safety measures such as slowing down, paying attention to signs, staying distraction-free, and keeping a safe distance from workers. All entries must focus exclusively on the safety theme “Safe Actions Save Lives.” Posters must display the theme exactly as written, including all punctuation marks.
All poster submissions should be mailed to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration with a postmarked date of February 20, 2026, or earlier. CAD submissions can be submitted electronically to MDHighwaySafetyOffice@gmail.com. Questions regarding the contest can be directed to Gabriel Rose, State Director for Pupil Transportation and Emergency Management, MSDE, at Gabriel.rose1@maryland.gov.
More information, and criteria for poster submissions can be found below on the attached Work Zone Safety Contest Flier.
Jacob Wilcox
December
Students of the Month
Cole Berkey
Genesis Perez Ramirez
Eva Coletta
Ashlyn Lackemeyer
Sophia Torres
Alaina "Lainey" Neilson
Savannah Cregger
Setting SMART Goals
We hope you are feeling refreshed in the New Year. From this point until the end of the school year, each day will bring more and more daylight! We cannot believe we are halfway through the school year! As we embark on the second semester, now is a great time to do some self-reflection around the first semester and set some goals for the rest of the year. January was Mental Wellness Month, but it is important to focus on Mental Wellness all the time, not just in January! Mental wellness is not something that occurs on its own, it is a muscle that needs to be strengthened every day. If you do not already have a self-care practice, the new year is a great time to incorporate one into your everyday routine. Small changes can turn into wellness habits that set the stage for hope, joy, and resiliency in the new year.
Second semester is a great time to reflect on what went well during the first semester and what could be better. What are your strengths? What was challenging? Once you have determined what area to improve upon, here are some ways to support you in achieving your goals. Set a SMART goal.
SMART goals are:
S - Specific. Set goals that are clear and well-defined about what you wish to achieve (rather than, “I would like to wake up earlier next semester,” a more specific goal would be, “I will wake up at 7:00am every morning on Monday-Friday.”
M - Measurable. 📏How will you know when you’ve achieved their goal? Track your progress! 📏
A - Achievable. What specific actions will you take to achieve your goal? Consider any resources you will need to achieve your goal and whether or not it is achievable, given your set of resources.
R - Relevant. Why is this goal important to you? What are the benefits? Why is it meaningful?
T - Time-bound. ⌛When do you want to achieve your goal? ⌛
🌳Landscaping and Agribusiness Students Attend MANTS in Baltimore 🌳
Students from the Landscaping and Agribusiness programs attended the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore, one of the largest horticulture and agribusiness trade shows in the region. The event showcased an impressive range of vendors representing all areas of the agriculture industry, featuring over one thousand booths of different exhibiting companies.
Students enjoyed exploring the wide variety of products, services, and career opportunities available within the field. The experience highlighted the diversity of agribusiness and gave students valuable exposure to industry trends, innovation, and networking opportunities.
Blen Ashenafi & Yeni Villatoro
Yeni Villatoro & Blen Ashenafi
Lisseth Alvarenga
Dr. Howard will represent CTC in the FCPS Teacher of the Year contest
The Career and Technology Center’s (CTC) 2026 nominee for Teacher of the Year is
🎉 Dr. Zach Howard 🎉
Dr. Howard exemplifies the very best of teaching, leadership, and
service through his work as the Physical Rehabilitation teacher at CTC.
In 2019, he had the vision, determination and expertise to build the Physical
Rehabilitation program at CTC entirely from the ground up. What began as an idea has
grown into a rigorous, popular and student-centered program for meaningful, in-demand
careers in healthcare.
What truly sets Dr. Howard apart is his commitment to his students. He invests
countless hours mentoring, encouraging and supporting learners of all backgrounds. He
meets students where they are, challenges them to reach their full potential and
celebrates their achievements. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Howard is a collaborative
colleague and school improvement leader at CTC.
Thank you, Dr. Howard, for all you do!
Stacey Dodson
Aerospace Engineering Teacher
Anne Navazio
Teacher Academy of Maryland Teacher
Maria Granados
Multilingual Education Instructional Assistant