The Virginia Tech School of Education’s Iota chapter of Omicron Tau Theta, an honor society for graduate students in career and technical education, recently inducted eight students into the program.

Initiates for 2021 are Olivia Guyon, Schuyler Henderson, Hunter Hilbert, Annaliese Jenkins, Evan Lineweaver, Danielle Martin, Justin Petrie, and Sarah Wright. All eight students are enrolled in the master’s program that leads to teacher certification in career and technical education. The students’ areas of focus include agricultural education, business and information technology, family and consumer sciences, and marketing education.

Omicron Tau Theta was established nationally in 1976 to acknowledge the achievement of graduate students, professional educators, and leaders in business, industry, and government in career and technical education. Since forming in 1981, the Virginia Tech chapter of Omicron Tau Theta has initiated more than 500 members.

“Career and technical knowledge has stimulated the worldwide linkage of many nations,” said Joseph Mukuni, a collegiate associate professor and coordinator of the Career and Technical Education program in the School of Education. Mukuni’s own career has included international development and education work in a number of countries, including China, Denmark, the Netherlands, Swaziland, and Tanzania.

Mukuni’s most recent research project, Globalization Business Skills, Diversity Awareness, and Entrepreneurship Workforce Development in Zambia, provides middle and secondary students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work across sectors, industries, and cultures. The program’s ultimate goal is to advance entrepreneurship and small business operations in Zambia.

“Career and technical education can become the common thread that connects the ideas of peoples, the goals of societies, and the philosophies of governments,” said Natalie Ferand, an assistant professor of career and technical education and advisor of the Virginia Tech chapter of Omicron Tau Theta.

Participating in the Omicron Tau Theta induction ceremony were, from left, Kay Lucus, secretary of the Virginia Tech chapter of Omicron Tau Theta and a doctoral student in career and technical education; Tabitha Young, president of the Virginia Tech chapter and a doctoral student in career and technical education; 2021 initiates Danielle Martin, Hunter Hilbert, Sarah Wright, Annaliese Jenkins, Justin Petrie, Evan Lineweaver, and Schuyler Henderson; and Kristin Gehsmann, director of the School of Education.
Participating in the Omicron Tau Theta induction ceremony were, from left, Kay Lucus, secretary of the Virginia Tech chapter of Omicron Tau Theta and a doctoral student in career and technical education; Tabitha Young, president of the Virginia Tech chapter and a doctoral student in career and technical education; 2021 initiates Danielle Martin, Hunter Hilbert, Sarah Wright, Annaliese Jenkins, Justin Petrie, Evan Lineweaver, and Schuyler Henderson; and Kristin Gehsmann, director of the School of Education.

“Career and technical education teachers are in critical need in Virginia and across the country,” added Kristin Gehsmann, director of the School of Education. “They are central to preparing the workforce of tomorrow.”

The School of Education has recently launched a new undergraduate major in career and technical education, in addition to its already successful graduate programs in the field.

The induction ceremony was planned and led by Tabitha Young, the chapter president. Ceremony participants included Kay Lucas, chapter secretary; Gehsmann; William Price, an immediate past advisor and an associate professor emeritus; and Tom Shelton, an alumnus and long-time member of the chapter.

Written by Sharon Stidham