CTC Career Talk
April 2026

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
CTC was honored to host Dr. Dyson as she filmed part of her State of the FCPS System address in our Dental Assistant Lab.
For more information, contact Diane Herndon at diane.herndon@fcps.org
❗ Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships❗
DEADLINE: May 15, 2026
Dr. Rob Mansman will award a $1000 scholarship to one qualifying area graduating high school senior. Applicant must complete and present the Pediatric Dental Center of Frederick the application below, along with a 500+ word essay on “How does the American legal system operate differently for wealthy-connected individuals compared to ordinary citizens? Use and example of a current or past case to justify your response.”
Additionally, applicants should include a sealed transcript and a letter of acceptance from the college they will be attending. Scholarship information must be turned in to our office by May 15, 2026 at noon. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be reviewed.
More information:
DEADLINE: June 10, 2026
Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants
are pleased to be able to continue with their
scholarship program for the 20th year.
💰 They will be awarding $1,000 to the winner(s) each year. 💰
The A&F Scholarships are available to all high school juniors and seniors as well as all students currently registered in any accredited post-secondary institution.
Application Procedure
To apply for this scholarship, you will need to write a 500-1000 word essay on the topic below:
Describe your educational career and life goals. Explain your plan for achieving these goals. Include your degree/major, why you selected it, and how this degree/major will help you achieve your goals.
For full submission details see: Scholarships - A&F Business Consultants
SkillsUSA is proud to partner with the SkillPointe Foundation to expand scholarship access for students pursuing careers in Construction, Energy, Manufacturing, Transportation, Healthcare, Automotive and more.
The SkillPointe Foundation has committed $250,000 exclusively for SkillsUSA members, giving them top consideration across dozens of high-demand career scholarships.
Visit the SkillPointe Foundation's website to explore current opportunities and apply.
SkillsUSA College/Postsecondary Scholarships Are Open!
Many students are thinking ahead to the cost of college and SkillsUSA offers exclusive scholarship opportunities for members pursuing postsecondary education. Registered SkillsUSA members with upcoming tuition expenses for the fall 2026 academic term can apply for scholarships provided by SkillsUSA and our industry partners.
Some scholarships still open!
Ø NAPA/SkillsUSA Transportation Repair Pathway Scholarship ($2,500, closes June 30)
SkillsUSA partners with Kaleidoscope to provide a streamlined application platform. Students are encouraged to explore the SkillsUSA Scholarships webpage now to view available opportunities and more will be posted soon. For scholarship questions or assistance in applying, reach out to Customer Care.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Zoee Foland
Februray
Students of the Month
Emerson Maland
Casey Glynn
Edward Caraballo
Courtney Chaffman
Logan Thiede
Shannon Chance
Zoey Smith
SkillsUSA
CTC Supports Frederick County Women in Trades
COUNSELING SERVICES
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being. Mental health is health. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior, or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others.
Mental health conditions are far more common than you think, mainly because people don’t like to, or are scared to, talk about them. However…
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24
It is already difficult enough to maintain self-love in a society that actively promotes insecurity and self-hate, but when you struggle with a mental illness, it is almost impossible to feel worthy of love. Here are some things to remember to help you regain perspective and love yourself.
You have hopes, dreams, and goals. Mental illness can make those things seem difficult to realize, but that does not mean your hopes, dreams, and goals do not exist. Your life visions are achievable.
You have your own set of values and sense of what is important to you. Having a mental illness does not mean you do not believe in anything.
You have unique abilities and talents. Certain things are happening in your brain that can make life difficult, but there is more to you than those things.
You have character strengths built within you. These strengths are a large part of who you are. Your mental illness is not.
Allow yourself to feel but check the facts. Having a mental illness does not invalidate your feelings. You need to embrace your emotions and let yourself feel what you are feeling. At the same time, look at your own emotions objectively and think about the reality of the situation. You may believe your anxiety when it tells you that everyone hates you, but in reality, that is almost never the case.
Even on your worst days, you are you!! You are surviving. You have a spark inside you that never stops glowing.
We all need a little help sometimes:
Child Protective Services (CPS): 1-800-91-PREVENT
Help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect
Crisis Services: Dial 211
When you feel anxious or depressed and need someone to talk with so you can stay safe
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME TO 741741
https://www.crisistextline.org/
Free confidential 24/7 support
Maryland Anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233
Report threats or situations that put your safety, or others’ safety, at risk
Mental Health Association: https://fcmha.org/
Walk-in crisis services are available 24/7
Free mental health screening
CAREER COACH CORNER
Heartly House Visits CTC
Ms. Edmonds, Mrs. Kidd’s and Mrs. Howard's classes welcomed guest speakers from Heartly House to share important information and resources with students. During their visit, presenters discussed topics including personal/patient safety, healthy relationships, and human trafficking awareness.
Students gained valuable insight into recognizing warning signs, prevention, accessing help, and supporting others in need. The presentation provided meaningful, real-world knowledge that supports student well-being both in and out of the classroom. Heartly House provides an array of resources for intimate partner violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and harassment, and child abuse.
Heartly House provides critical services to individuals and families in need. If you or someone you know finds themselves in need of the many resources provided by the Heartly House, reach out by calling (can remain anonymous if more comfortable) the 24 hour hotline 301.662.8800.
Academy of Health Professions Nursing Students Visit Shock Trauma Center
Students from Ms. White’s first-year Academy of Health Professions Nursing program visited the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center for an engaging and educational experience. During the visit, students toured the facility and gained a firsthand look at the fast-paced environment of trauma care.
Students also participated in a “ThinkFirst” injury prevention program and had the opportunity to meet with a variety of healthcare professionals. The experience provided valuable insight into emergency medicine and helped students explore potential career paths within the healthcare field.
Girls Night in the Shop Inspires Future Automotive Professionals
The Auto Technology program recently hosted its first-ever “Girls Night in the Shop,” welcoming nearly 100 attendees from elementary, middle, and high school for an evening of exploration and hands-on learning. The event, supported by Ms. Edmonds and the Women in Trades Club, also highlighted additional trade programs including Auto Body, Welding, Electrical, and HVAC/Plumbing. It was designed to introduce young women to opportunities within the industry and encourage interest in nontraditional career paths.
Participants had the chance to connect with female industry professionals who shared their experiences and career journeys. Representatives from CarMax, Fitzgerald Auto Mall, DARCARS Toyota, and Dynamic Automotive were on site, offering insight into the many opportunities available in the field. The event was a great success and an inspiring step toward building the next generation of women in the trades.
💓💓 PROGRAM PULSE 💓💓
🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦 The Blue Hall 🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦 🟦
Landscape Design, HVAC/Plumbing, Electricity, Criminal Justice, Carpentry
Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD) is an international outreach program led by the non-profit Americans for Medical Progress. It promotes public understanding of the important role animals play in biomedical research and the medical advancements that benefit both humans and animals.
BRAD 2026 was celebrated on April 16, when first-year biomedical students in Ms. Marcum and Ms. Crowell’s classes heard from guest speakers from Charles River Laboratories in Frederick. The speakers included Dr. Jessica Plunkard (Veterinarian), Amanda Tobery (Operations Manager), Rachel Carner (Behavior Technician), Bri Balducci (Senior Lab Technologist), and Vejea Walker (Primate Technician).
Dr. Plunkard discussed the drug development pathway and explained how research at Charles River Laboratories contributes to this process. She also introduced the concept of model organisms and guided students through an activity in which they determined which organisms are most appropriate for different types of research.
In addition, Dr. Plunkard shared video clips and real-world examples highlighting the ethical use of animals in research, emphasizing the guiding principles of the Three Rs: replace, reduce, and refine. Replace refers to using non-animal methods whenever possible, reduce involves using statistical approaches to gather necessary data from fewer animals, and refine focuses on minimizing pain, distress, and harm through improved housing, handling, and non-invasive procedures.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions about both the research process and the variety of career pathways in the field.
The Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) students recently had the exciting opportunity to visit Hood College’s School of Education for an immersive, day-long experience. During their visit, students heard from the provost, admissions and financial aid representatives, and participated in a student panel discussion. They also observed live education classes and toured the campus, gaining valuable insight into the next steps on their journey to becoming educators, especially unique scholarships just for educators. We are grateful to our partners at Hood College for providing such a meaningful and inspiring experience.
In addition, TAM students collaborated with the Explorers Program to conduct mock interviews. This experience allowed students to strengthen their effective questioning strategies while building connections with fellow CTC students. We appreciate the Explorers for helping our students grow in confidence and professionalism.
We also celebrate two outstanding TAM students who are balancing their CTC coursework, home school responsibilities, and extracurricular commitments. Kat Gilliam contributed her talents to the costume department for Urbana High School’s production of *Mamma Mia!*, while Lainey Nielson shined on stage as Jojo in Brunswick High School’s production of *Seussical*. Congratulations to both students for their dedication and achievements!
📆 IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES 📆
The Frederick County Career and Technology Center (CTC) is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school. Our programs and classes combine academic knowledge with technical skills to prepare students for in-demand and high-skilled jobs. CTC provides students with opportunities to earn industry-recognized certifications and licenses, acquire college credit, and gain valuable work experience. CTC is one of many treasures in Frederick County. It is not only a place of great education and opportunities but also a place of camaraderie and nostalgia.
Want to know more about CTC? Click the links below:
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 7922 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, MD 21702
Phone: 227-203-3650
Fax: 227-203-3651
Website: https://ctc.sites.fcps.org/
Facebook: Frederick County Career & Tech Center
X (formerly Twitter): @FrederickCTC, @CTCPrincipal
Instagram: @fcps_ctc, @ctc_principal