April 1, 2022 - Future entrepreneurs, medical professionals and auto technicians were among those recognized by the Comal ISD Board of Trustees during its regular meeting Thursday. More than 30 students who are involved in one of the district’s Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs either qualified for a state competition or competed and won a contest in their future field of interest.
Students participate in these competitions and contests to learn more about a possible career path and gain experience within that career.
Young entrepreneurs at Pieper High School are the founding members of the campus’ DECA group, and they set quite a precedence this year with 21 members qualifying for DECA’s state competition. Among the ninth and 10th-grade students, two are now state finalists; one is a state winner and national qualifier; and their adviser, Leslie Weil, received the State Outstanding Service Award for Leadership in Marketing Education.
Holt Miller won the state competition in the Business Growth Plan category for the shoe business he created and named SA Shoe Club. He will compete at the national DECA competition later in April in Atlanta, Georgia.
Pieper High School DECA State Qualifiers
- Christine Balderrama
- Cole Barefoot
- Mila Braun
- Zachary Clinton
- Morgan Elliot
- Reagan Grubbs
- Casen Jacobson, state finalist
- Ava Kline
- Edward Lin, state finalist
- Kyra Makovsky
- Sydney McHenry
- Holt Miller, state winner and national qualifier
- Zaara Mistry
- Andi Monroe
- Cindy Nguyen
- Elizabeth Osuga
- Charlotte Patton
- Alyssa Rubio
- Abbey Skrobanek
- Aden Sparhawk
- Maddie Spencer
- Silke Thrush
DECA is an organization that prepares leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
With hopes of becoming medical professionals one day, students may join Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) groups in high school.
HOSA state qualifiers from Canyon High School
- Jaxson Boatman
- Emily Caddell
- Cade McKay
- Kaylee Smith
- Kylie Stewart
Their teacher and adviser is Ashley Sulak.
HOSA state qualifiers from PHS
- Kaelah Daniel
- Gabrielle Maxwell
- Chelsea Okhiria
- Audrey Pantano
- Avery Tran
One of the district’s longest-running CTE programs is Auto Tech at CHS. Two students in this program recently brought home top honors from the UTI Top Tech Challenge in Houston, winning $7,500 scholarships each as well as Snap-on toolboxes.
Auto Tech Winners
- Charles Hendrix
- James Robinson
Their teacher and adviser is Michael Newkirk.
Collectively, these students illustrate the district’s CTE mission to engage students in hands-on activities that further their success and future goals.
-Canyon High School Auto Tech students, Charles Hendrix and James Robinson along with their teacher and adviser, Michael Newkirk, are pictured with the Comal ISD Board of Trustees.
-Pieper High School DECA students who qualified for state competition are pictured with the Comal ISD Board of Trustees.
-Canyon High School HOSA students who qualified for state competition are pictured with the Comal ISD Board of Trustees.
-Pieper High School HOSA students who qualified for state competition are pictured with the Comal ISD Board of Trustees.