Monthly Update #1

Dear DCA Staff, Students, Families, and Community Partners,

April has been a month of momentum, growth, and just enough April Fool’s energy to keep us checking our inboxes twice. Beyond the jokes, this month showcased the incredible work happening across Decatur Career Academy as students continued engaging in pathway learning, work-based experiences, CTAE opportunities, industry exposure, and preparation for life beyond graduation.

From student showcases and pathway progress to college and career readiness initiatives, DCA remains focused on delivering meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare our students for future success. As we move into May, excitement is building for our inaugural Career Academy Awards on Wednesday, May 6 during WIN time, where we will celebrate graduating pathway completers, CTSO members, and outstanding student achievement in true red-carpet style.

April also offered meaningful reminders of the values that strengthen our school community. During National Volunteer Month, we thank the mentors, business partners, and supporters who invest in our students. Earth Month encouraged sustainability and innovation, Autism Acceptance Month reaffirmed our commitment to inclusion, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month underscored the importance of maintaining safe and supportive learning environments.

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we remain committed to celebrating student success, supporting workforce readiness, and ensuring every learner is equipped for the opportunities ahead.

Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to the mission of Decatur Career Academy.

At DCA, we are not just preparing students for graduation — we are preparing them for their future, and that deserves center stage.

Sincerely,

Terra Smiley

We are thrilled to announce that our Architecture Program has been awarded $2,570 from the Lewis Cenker Scholarship!

This generous funding is made possible by the Lewis Cenker Scholarship Board and the Home Builders Association of Georgia. These funds are dedicated to training the next generation of professionals, ensuring our students are prepared to enter the workforce with the skills and experience they need to thrive.

Making an Impact

The Cenker Scholarship has a history of directly improving our students' learning environment. To give you an idea of the impact:

• Past Success: During our previous award cycle, funds were used to purchase high-performance laptops.

• Student Support: These devices allowed students to continue complex design projects outside the classroom, providing the flexibility required for modern architectural study.

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of the Home Builders Association of Georgia in helping our students design a brighter future!

History was made at Decatur Career Academy this week! We hosted our very first Real Estate Signing Day, a tradition usually reserved for athletes that we’ve reimagined for our professional trailblazers.

In partnership with Olivia Price Real Estate, three driven students officially signed into a pioneering WBL placement for the 2026–2027 year. These students committed to an innovative internship that goes far beyond shadowing, specifically preparing them to sit for the Georgia Real Estate Licensing Exam. To symbolize the importance of this career milestone, students were honored with blazers and pins. Congratulations to our first three signees for leading the way for the next generation of real estate professionals!

#DecaturProud #FutureAgents #DCA

Our Intro to Graphic Design class took their creativity on the road for an immersive workshop at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Atlanta!

Getting off-campus and into a world-class art institution gave our aspiring designers a firsthand look at the professional path ahead. During the workshop, students had the chance to experiment with new techniques and see how their classroom skills translate to a high-level creative environment.

Workshop Highlights:

• Professional Exposure: Students toured the campus and got a "behind-the-scenes" look at what it’s like to study at one of the premier design schools in the country.

• Hands-On Learning: The workshop pushed our intro students to think outside the box, tackling design challenges with a professional edge.

• Future Inspiration: Seeing the work of current SCAD students helped our class visualize their own potential portfolios and career paths in the visual arts.

It was an inspiring day of "designing the future," and we can't wait to see how these new ideas show up in their upcoming class projects!

Our students recently took their talents to the Georgia CTI Fall Leadership Conference held at the historic Rock Eagle 4-H Center. It was an inspiring weekend dedicated to growth, collaboration, and the development of the next generation of leaders.

Highlights from the Conference:

• Skill Building: Students participated in specialized workshops designed to sharpen their communication and team-building skills.

• Networking: Our group connected with peers from across the state, sharing ideas and building a stronger CTI community.

• Culinary Competition: A huge shoutout to Mikayla Sanders, who stepped into the kitchen to represent us in the Professional Foods Culinary competition! Competing at the state level takes immense focus and skill, and we are so proud of her dedication.

Seeing our students step up and embrace these leadership opportunities—from the workshops to the competitive events—is a testament to their hard work. We are proud of how they represented the Decatur Career Academy in the heart of Georgia!

The Architecture Program is beaming with pride following last night’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) Atlanta Chapter Awards! Out of 269 entries representing 10 different high schools, two of our very own stood out for their exceptional creativity and technical skill.

🥇 Our Award-Winning Designers

Please join us in congratulating:

• Sawyer Nemec (Messer): 1st Place – Introductory Level Competition

• Owen Rohr (Moore): 2nd Place – Advanced Level Competition

The Challenge: World-Class Design

This year’s prompt was no small feat. Students were tasked with designing a FIFA World Cup Fan Zone and a FIFA World Cup Team Base Center located right next to the iconic Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The awards ceremony took place at the Kennesaw State University Architecture Building, where Sawyer and Owen had the incredible opportunity to present their projects to industry professionals. The evening also included a tour of KSU’s architecture program, giving our students a firsthand look at the next level of their educational journey.

In the world of technical education, this is the ultimate "stamp of excellence." It represents the apex of program quality, awarded only to programs that have successfully undergone rigorous reviews by top leaders from business and industry. This distinction confirms that our curriculum, facility, and instruction are teaching students to a professional gold standard.

Facilities to Match

While the lab space transformation isn't 100% finished just yet, the improvements made thus far are truly night and day. We are proud to provide our students with a professional-grade environment that matches the high level of certification we have achieved.

We are overjoyed to celebrate our CNA Nursing Pinning Ceremony held this morning! It was a momentous occasion marking the hard work, late-night studying, and clinical dedication of our incredible students.

🎓 100% Graduation Rate

We are proud to announce that all 11 of our candidates successfully graduated and received their pins! This milestone represents their readiness to enter the healthcare field and provide compassionate, professional care.

🌟 Individual Honors

While the entire cohort excelled, two students received special recognition for their outstanding contributions:

• Student of the Year: Esther Lee Esther’s dedication to excellence has been inspiring. She will be continuing her journey in healthcare this fall, pursuing her nursing degree at Emory University.

• Honorable Mention: Cadence Moyston A rising senior, Cadence was recognized for demonstrating the most growth throughout the year, showing incredible resilience and a deepening passion for the nursing profession.

Congratulations to our new CNAs—the future of healthcare is in great hands!

Our Architecture Club had a standout evening at the ACE Mentor Program banquet! The team took the stage to present their latest design project, showcasing the technical skills and collaborative spirit they’ve developed this year to a room full of industry professionals.

The night was filled with hard work and high honors:

• Project Presentation: The club successfully defended their design concepts, proving they can hold their own in professional settings.

• Scholarship Success: A huge congratulations to Anna Lothridge, who was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to support her future studies!

• Ultimate Team Player: Mason was also a key participant in the event. Whether it’s designing, presenting, or helping the team, Mason truly does it all.

Our DCA students didn't just show up—they dominated! We are incredibly proud to announce that our team brought home 1st place at the prestigious NASDAQ Suit Up Event.

This competition challenges students to step into the world of business and entrepreneurship, and our team rose to the occasion with professional polish and innovative thinking. Their hard work and stellar performance truly set them apart.

A huge thank you to the faculty and staff who nominated such an outstanding group of students. This win is a fantastic reflection of the talent and drive we see every day at the Academy!

Decatur Career Academy is partnering with AI Nautics to offer a five-day Drone Academy Summer Camp, June 22–26 (9 AM–5 PM) for rising juniors and seniors (ages 16+).
Students will receive hands-on drone training and complete their assessment at Peachtree DeKalb Airport, an official FAA testing site.

Cost: $500
Four $250 scholarships available
Only 15 seats
Deadline: May 1

Seats are limited. Registration is first come, first served.

Getting our Architecture program industry-certified took a village. Huge thanks to:

• Messer: For laying the groundwork in our introductory courses.

• Benson: The master of logistics and orders.

• Smiley: The hero who tackled mountains of paperwork.

• Tex & Black: For keeping the energy up and the team fed.