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    ST. LOUIS, MO, June 2012

    On Thursday, June 28, twelve St. Louis Public School seniors, along with their families and friends, were honored at a recognition and graduation program at Linn State Technical College in Linn, MO.  Dr. Alice Roach, Chief of Staff for St. Louis Public Schools, gave the keynote address at the graduation.   

    The SLPS students were participants in the first Technology Scholars Academy.  For three weeks, Monday through Thursday, the students lived on campus at Linn State learning about civil engineering and construction technology.  They followed a very intense schedule of activities including college course work and hands on projects in engineering, manufacturing and construction.  Prior to completion of the program, students worked in teams to create a Capstone project to present at the graduation program.  This assignment included a power point presentation featuring their career plans, research of a local construction company, highlights of their time at Linn State and a motto describing their experience as a participant of the academy. 

    Students also had fun activities incorporated into the program – team building at Venture Out, archery lessons on campus, a visit to a working dairy farm, and a visit to the State Capitol in Jefferson City.  This program was coordinated with Linn State through the Career and Technical Education Division.   

    All the students successfully passed every component of the program and earned three hours of college credit, MODOT certification and an IPad.  Linn State awarded each student a $2000 grant to attend college there in the fall of 2013. 

    The Technology Academy Scholars included Justin Brooks, William Burton III, Breanna Cochran, Joshua Kish, Jerica Lovings, and Kristopher Overall from Gateway High; Wynter Hinton and Kirk Nelson from Carnahan High; Jasmine Steed from Roosevelt High; Antoine Minger-Allen from Sumner High; and Brionne Harris and Aaliyah Scott from Vashon High. 

    Duane McGowan, Construction Trades teacher at Vashon, served as the mentor and chaperone for the boys and Valarie Robinson from Linn State, served as the site coordinator and chaperone for the girls.