The NET project is committed to preparing students for the 21st century workforce through the promotion of gender neutral educational strategies and practices.
Vanguard Award Winners for 2007-08
Congratulations to this year’s Vanguard Award Winners & Finalists.
Serena Bardwell, a first year student in the
Heavy Equipment Operations and Construction Trades program at the Schoharie Career and
Technical Center of the Capital Region BOCES, excels in all aspects of the program.
She is a top student in the classroom and shop and out in the field, and has earned
awards for attendance, academic honors, and student of the month. As the only female
student in her class of 30, she represents the new generation of female construction
worker – comfortable as a woman pursuing her chosen field of work. Serena left the
comfort of a suburban school district to enroll in a program in a rural setting
with a population and culture far different from her own. She works easily with teams
of her fellow students, where she often helps her peers to prepare for tests and
practice new skills. Serena was encouraged by her father, a mechanic, to take the risk
to pursue her goal. She refers to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
when explaining how important it is to take risks to make change. She says,
“We need to set the standards for things outside of the norm. To show people a
certain job isn’t just for a specific gender. That anyone can do it.”
John Chiweteoke, a student in the Nursing program at Schenectady County
Community College, has all the qualities to become a very good nurse. He is smart,
compassionate, very motivated, highly intelligent, and skilled at situational problem
solving. He is a leader among his peers, and when in the role of a team leader, consistently
delivers a successful outcome. He is a quiet role model who leads by example,
and his classmates seek out his help and opinion. John is from Nigeria, and has worked
hard at developing fluent English language skills. He is always prepared for class and
performs in a professional manner in all settings. He chose Nursing as a career because
caring for the sick and elderly has been his passion. He intends to use his skills to
improve the life of others in the USA, Nigeria, and eventually, around the world.
He says, “In reality there is no such thing as a
‘traditional career’. It was created by people because of the
way things were in society. But times have changed and so should our thinking.”
Teddy Kaminski, a senior in the Cosmetology program at Monroe 2 BOCES,
has been a leader in his field in both school and industry activities. He exhibits
outstanding initiative in developing his career opportunities through his extensive
outreach to local salons and stylists. Teddy eagerly participates in team projects and
shares his skills and discoveries with his peers. His initial concerns about being a male
in a program of mostly females have been overcome by his dedication and creativity.
He offered to participate in the 10th grade tour day as a role model for future male
cosmetology students. Teddy chose Cosmetology as a way to combine his creativity with
his passion for helping people feel good. He was encouraged by his high school counselor
and his family to pursue this career. He says, “Times have quickly changed and so
have the expectations of what a man should choose as his career choice.”
Anntoinette M. Thomas, a second year student in the Electrical Engineering
Technology program at SUNY Canton, will graduate this spring as the second female in history
to complete the program. She has excelled in her academic studies, has excellent interpersonal
skills, and as a role model, tutors several fellow classmates. Further, she has successfully
met the challenges of raising a family as a single mother while enrolled as a full time college
student. Anntoinette volunteers as a mentor at the local Boys and Girls Club, where she
shows the young women that careers in non-traditional areas such as Electrical
Engineering Technology are within their reach. She says,
“Diversity is a good thing…it can lead to different ideas because as we all
know, men and women just don’t think alike.”
Julio Vargas, a student in the Certified Nurse Aide training program at
Newburgh Free Academy, initially intended to become a police officer. He wanted to have
some medical knowledge to help in response to emergency police calls. It did not take
long for him to realize that a career in nursing was a better choice. As the only male
student in his class, Julio’s sense of confidence and gregarious personality helped
overcome any resistance from his classmates. An honor student, he is a role model for
using feedback and evaluation as tools for self improvement. He has learned to use humor
when appropriate in a setting that can be somewhat dismal, and his sensitivity to patients
reveals maturity and professionalism. Julio was encouraged by his mother to pursue a career
in health care, and is mentored by his male nursing teacher. He says,
“By having programs such as C.N.A. offered at the high school level, we are
allowing the discussions of gender based bias to occur sooner, thus having the potential
to have a true cultural shift that will rid us of the ignorance surrounding gender
and occupation.”