CTC Announces Top 2 Students of the Class of 2024

Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center (CTC) proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of the Top 2 students for the Class of 2024: Cole Griffith and Alex Lubbers. These exceptional seniors have demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to their career field.

Cole Griffith - Cybersecurity and Computer Networking program

A senior from Tecumseh High School, Cole Griffith, has excelled in the Cybersecurity and Computer Networking program at CTC. The program provides work-based learning skills and focuses on industry certifications. Cole has focused on project research and development within his coursework and independent study time, thriving on the variety of the course content. Through College Credit Plus courses offered at CTC, Cole earned college credits and got a head start on a degree. Additionally, Cole earned certifications in Lean Six - Yellow and Green Belt, CompTIA Information Technology Fundamentals, and in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word applications.

Cole seized the opportunity to participate in several teams, gaining valuable leadership skills and experience. He has been a key member of the CyberPatriot competition as the Ubuntu image front-runner. Cole and three team members placed in the Top 10 for the Network Design Team competition at the state-wide Business Professionals of America event. Additionally, they secured 1st Place at the Tech Prep Showcase and 2nd Place in CTC’s Student Showcase for their network design project.

Beyond the classroom, Cole serves as a Student Ambassador and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. Last summer, he gained valuable experience as an intern in CTC’s Information Technology Department, assisting with imaging computers and helpdesk tickets. Earlier this year, he began working at Woodrow Corporation through CTC’s work placement program.

“Cole shows a great amount of integrity and takes ownership of his learning,” said Angela Yake, Cybersecurity Instructor. “These attributes will greatly benefit him and any future teams he works with as he advances his cybersecurity career.” Cole plans to study cybersecurity at the University of Cincinnati.

Alex Lubbers - Emergency Medical Technician program

A senior from Shawnee High School, Alexander “Alex” Lubbers, wanted to become a firefighter since he was a young child, so the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program at CTC offered him the perfect opportunity to jumpstart his career. The EMT program offers training in advanced first aid, medication administration, and patient assessment - fundamental skills for emergency medical responders, such as firefighter paramedics.

Alex’s school counselor, Amy Cross, shares that he is “a hardworking student who consistently demonstrates a positive attitude toward learning. He takes pride in his work and consistently earns top grades in his high school and College Credit Plus classes.” In addition to college credit, Alex earned several industry credentials related to emergency medical services - two National Incident Management System credentials and CPR and First Aid certifications.

Alex is an active member of SkillsUSA, a career-tech student organization that focuses on technical skill development and professional growth. Through SkillsUSA, Alex competed on a team with three other students in the Health Knowledge Bowl, earning 1st Place in the regional competition and 6th Place at the state competition!

Recently Alex received the Summa Cum Laude award from Shawnee High School and numerous scholarships from a variety of organizations. In the next few weeks, Alex will begin firefighter classes to become a firefighter EMT, with the goal of advancing to becoming a firefighter paramedic. This fall, he will begin working on a business degree at Wright State University. Ultimately, Alex would like to share his passion and skills with high school students as a teacher after retirement.

“CTC is incredibly proud of Cole and Alex for their exceptional achievements and dedication to their career fields,” shared Michelle Patrick, CTC’s Superintendent. “They embody CTC’s mission of preparing students to be Career Ready, College Ready, and Life Ready! We are excited to see all they will achieve and their positive impact on the community.”

Congratulations, Cole and Alex - your hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and we are proud to have been a part of your journey!