SIDNEY, Neb. – From healthcare and business to design, education and skilled trades, Sidney High School students are gaining real-world experience through the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs — and their recent accomplishments were spotlighted in the March edition of the SHS CTE News.

The newsletter showcases achievements across a wide variety of CTE pathways, including HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), DECA, FCCLA, interior design, internship experiences and RaiderMade, a student-run enterprise at SHS.

In early March, eighteen students from Sidney’s HOSA chapter competed at the State Leadership Conference at Creighton University. Several earned medals and qualified for the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville this summer. Standout performances came from Emily Bashtovoi, Aastha Chaudhari, Dagen Lee, Maria Guzman, among others. HOSA Adviser Seth Schuessler praised the students’ work ethic and passion for future careers to better their communities.

In business and entrepreneurship, 24 students qualified for State DECA in Lincoln, with eight placing in the top 8 of their events and advancing to the National DECA Conference in Orlando. Faith Frye took home first place in Start-Up Business Plan and served as Vice President of Membership Services for Nebraska DECA. The team also includes Ryan Dillehay and Katie Raffelson who earned top honors in Independent Business Plan.

Interior design students partnered with Adam and Lindsey Price, owners of the new Price Cream location in downtown Sidney, to create layout and décor ideas for the space. Their renderings were shared in the newsletter, showcasing their creativity and real-world application of classroom learning.

Kanon Palmer, a senior at SHS, was featured in the Internship Spotlight after completing a hands-on placement with Worldwide Trophy Adventures and Aves, a waterfowl apparel company. Palmer credits the internship for helping shape his career goals and build valuable communication and problem-solving skills.

Students enrolled in the Education Observation course, in partnership with Doane University, spent the semester assisting teachers in Sidney Public Schools classrooms. They observed classroom management techniques, lesson execution and student engagement strategies, with the opportunity to teach a lesson later this spring.

The RaiderMade program continues to grow, offering SHS students experience in running a coffee shop, coffee bus, photography studio, print shop and graphic design studio — all while serving the school and local community.