In keeping with our mission to support girls and women, AAUW Carlisle celebrates high school girls who choose Career and Technical Education Programs of Study.   AAUW recognizes that many high school students face pressure to attend four-year colleges from sources at school, at home, and in the wider community and culture.  Furthermore, girls who pursue non-traditional tracks in high school rarely receive recognition.  The combined impact of these influences may persuade some young women to pursue four-year degrees, often accompanied by significant debt when a vocational diploma would better suit their career goals.

We celebrate the girls in Career and Technical Education Programs of Study at Carlisle Area High School.  These girls are often the one and only — Trailblazers!  Teachers have recommended girls for recognition based on the following qualities:  good citizenship at school, enthusiasm for their Program of Study, and academic competence with passing grades in all of their courses.  In addition to recognizing the girls for their achievements, a panel of local women leaders will offer their insights to the girls as they prepare to move into their career fields or continue their technical education.

Trailblazers — 2021

The celebration of honorees for our third Trailblazers Girls’ Recognition Event was held on March 29 via Zoom.  The week prior, Gail D’Urso, Trailblazers Chair visited the honorees at school to deliver the certificate and embroidered stadium blanket. 

 

 

 

On March 29, the honorees, family, faculty, administration, school board members, and AAUW Carlisle members attended the Zoom Event.  It was a wonderful celebration.  Event program.

Trailblazers — 2020

Our second Trailblazers Girls’ Recognition Event scheduled for Monday, April 6 was canceled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The honorees were selected based on the following criterion: good citizenship at school, enthusiasm for their Program of Study, and academic competence with passing grades in all courses.

We are very proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our honorees and regret that we were unable to recognize them publicly with a public in-person event.  To honor the recipients, AAUW Carlisle created this document.

Congratulations!

Trailblazers 2019 — Inaugural Event

On April 15, 2019 AAUW Carlisle launched a new tradition — Trailblazers Girls’ Recognition Event. Three juniors and four seniors, selected by their teachers to submit responses to a questionnaire about their CTE interests, were honored in the Fowler Auditorium at Carlisle High School. Light refreshments, provided by students in the Culinary Program, followed in the Culinary Café.

In keeping with our mission to support girls and women, AAUW Carlisle launched this “Trailblazers Recognition Event” to celebrate high school girls who choose Career and Technical Education Programs of Study. This idea has evolved from recognizing girls in STEM programs (who are likely to receive recognition elsewhere) to the recognition of girls who are pursuing study in vocational or technical fields. Teachers recommended girls for recognition based on the following qualities: good citizenship at school, enthusiasm for their Program of Study, and academic competence with passing grades in all of their courses.

AAUW recognizes that many high school students face pressure to attend four-year colleges from sources at school, at home, and in the wider community and culture. Furthermore, girls who are interested in non-traditional tracks in high school, such as automotive technology, engineering or construction trades, rarely receive positive support or recognition. The combined impact of these influences may persuade some young women to pursue four-year degrees, often accompanied by heavy college debts when a vocational diploma would better suit their career goals.

Dr. Parrillo, Director of Career and Technical at Carlisle Area High School opened the event. Ann Pehle welcomed the audience of honorees, parents, CTE students, and AAUW Carlisle members. Gail D’Urso introduced the panelists — Michelle Lisk, owner Synergy Home Care; Ashleigh Corby, owner Carlisle Pubs, Inc.; Melanie Kuzma, Assistant Service Manager at Faulkner Subaru — who shared their own experiences with a career in a CTE field. Then, each honoree was introduced and received a certificate. Seniors received a stadium blanket too.

Everyone thought the event a success. We have started a tradition that will be wonderful to keep.