- Be completing a Career and Technical Education program that is nontraditional for his/her gender.

- Be enrolled in a Michigan high school, career center, or community college occupational program during the 2007-2008 school year.

- Be nominated by a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other personnel employed by the student's school, center, or community college.Have satisfactory academic standing and acceptable citizenship and disciplinary history.

- Have made a contribution to awareness of nontraditional careers through successful participation in one or more of the following activities:

- Exemplary completion of a program considered nontraditional for the student's gender;
- Successful competition in a program-related event or contest;
- Participation in a Career and Technical Student Organization;
- Active recruitment of other students into programs nontraditional for their gender;
- Mentoring other students in Career and Technical Education programs nontraditional for their gender; and
- Significant contributions to the student's specific Career and Technical Education program.

In addition to being nominated, each applicant was required to provide two letters of support; write a brief narrative explaining his or her choice of career, the obstacles they may have faced, and key accomplishments; and complete an essay about the significance of their nontraditional training program.  This is the sixth year of the Breaking Traditions Awards.

The list of award recipients, in alphabetical order by county for each category, is as follows:

Michigan Breaking Traditions 2008 Recognition Awards:

Postsecondary Program:
Sarah A. Paris, Marquette, (Marquette County)
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, Northern Michigan University
Nominator: Mr. Bob Holtzmann (906) 227-1526; Interim Dean: Dr. Paul Lang, 906-227-2190.
 
Secondary Program:
Cory Rose Atkinson, Bay City, (Bay County)
Machine Trades/Manufacturing, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center, Bay City  Central High School
Nominator: Mr. Terry Morse, (989) 686-4770; School Administrator: Mr. Michael Rivard (989) 686-4410.
 
Sanel Oruc, Clinton Township (Macomb County)
Health Sciences, Warren Consolidated Schools Career Preparation Center, Clintondale High School
Nominator: Ms. Ann Marie Trzaski, RN, BSN, MSA (586) 825-2800, EXT. 17124; School Administrator: Mr. Frank Antonucci (586) 825-2800.
 
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2008 Merit Awards:
 
Amanda R. Florenski, Alba (Antrim County)
Auto Body Repair, Traverse Bay Area Career  Technology Center, Alba Public Schools
Nominator: Mr. Jeff Cizek (231) 922-6290; School Administrator: Dr. Jason Jeffrey (231) 922-6273.
 
Casey Lorence, Standish, (Arenac County)
Building Trades, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center, Standish-Sterling High School
Nominator: Mr. Andrew Neuman (989) 686-4770; School Administrator: Mr. Michael Rivard (989) 686-4770.
 
Justine Buda, Bay City, (Bay County)
Engineering/Manufacturing and Industrial Technology, Bay Arenac ISD Career Center, Bay City Central High School
Nominator: Mr. Eric Stasser (989) 686-4770; School Administrator: Mr. Michael Rivard, (989) 686-4410.

Haley N. Petriskey, Pinconning (Bay County)
Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center, Pinconning High School
Nominator: Mr. Brian Ducolon (989) 686-4770; School Administrator: Mr. Michael Rivard (989) 686-4770.

Kyle Roksiewicz, Kawkawlin (Bay County)
Nursing Assistant/Health Careers, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center, Bay City Western High School
Nominator: Ms. Traci Camp (989) 686-4770; School Administrator: Mr. Michael Rivard, (989) 686-4410.

Gina Rae VanDenBoom, Munger, (Bay County)
Culinary Arts, Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center, Bay City Central High School
Nominator: Mr. Andy Bacigalupo (989) 686-4770; School Administrator: Mr. Michael Rivard, (989) 686-4410.

Jessy Brook Thomas, Charlotte (Eaton County)
Environmental Sciences Technology/Agriscience, Calhoun Area Career Center, Olivet High School
Nominator/School Administrator: Mr. Timothy J. Staffen (269) 968-2271, ext.231.

Melissa Cole, Traverse City (Grand Traverse)
Power Equipment Technology, Traverse Bay Area Career Tech Center, Traverse City West High School
Nominator: Mr. Tom Tarr (231) 922-6286; School Administrator: Dr. Jason Jeffrey (238) 922-6273.

Sierra Therrien, Mason (Ingham County)
Welding Technology, Capital Area Career Center, Mason High School
Nominator: Scott Poe (517) 244-1398; School Administrator: Mr. Jeffrey Bohl, (517) 244-1330.

Stephanie Smith, Lapeer (Lapeer County)
Law Enforcement, Lapeer Education and Technology Center, Lapeer East High School
Nominator: Mr. Donald Hammond, (810) 664-1124, ext.4147; School Administrator: Ms. Cathy Amboy, (810) 664-1124.

Danielle Lulham, Adrian (Lenawee County)
Drafting/CAD, Lenawee Vo-Tech Center,   Adrian High School
Nominator: Ms. Kim Benson (517) 263-2108; School Administrator: Mr. Ryan Rowe (517) 263-2108.

Casmira Zalupski, Warren (Macomb County)
Drafting and Design Technology, Warren Cousino High School
Nominator: Mr. Jim Mandl, (586) 716-1863, ext. 17112; School Administrator: Mr. Frank Antonucci (586)825-2800.
 
Kelsey Kaiserlian, Pierson (Montcalm County)
Automotive Technician, Newaygo County RESA Career-Tech Center, Tri-County High School
Nominator: Mr. Bernard Blain (231) 924-8801; School Administrator: Mr. Kirk P. Wyers, Jr. (231) 924-0380.

Heather Marie Falan, White Cloud (Newaygo)
Machine Tool, Newaygo County RESA Career-Tech Center, White Cloud High School
Nominator: Mr. Jamison Stoike, (231) 924-8832; School Administrator: Mr. Kirk P. Wyers, Jr. (231) 924-0380.

Tarrah DeBord, South Lyon (Oakland County)
Welding and Fabrication, Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest, South Lyon High School
Nominator: Mr. Robert Hughes (248) 668-5637; School Administrator: Mr. Gary Farina, (248) 668-5600.

Wajiha Ibrahim, Rochester Hills (Oakland County)
Vehicle Design and Engineering Academy, Oakland Schools/Oakland Community College, Rochester High School
Nominator: Ms. Alethia Barnes (248) 232-4576; School Administrator: Ms. Mary Kay Aukee (248) 209-2154.

Samantha Helms, Shelby (Oceana County)
Medium-Heavy Truck Technician, Newaygo County Career-Tech Center, Shelby High School Nominator: Mr. Jim Bartlett (231) 924-8873; School Administrator: Mr. Kirk P. Wyers, Jr. (231) 924-0380.

Kimberlee Johnson, Cadillac (Wexford County)
Power Sports and Equipment Repair, Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Cadillac Senior High School
Nominator: Mr. David Mackey (231) 876-2241; School Administrator: Mr. David J. Cox (231) 876-2200.
 
 
Michigan Breaking Traditions 2008 Certificate Awards:

Shelby Cooper, Battle Creek (Calhoun County)
Computer Networking, Calhoun Area Career Center, Pennfield High School
Nominator: Mr. Paul Fedele (269) 968-2271 ext297; School Administrator: Ms. Kris Jenkins (269) 968-2271.
 
Rebekah Ashley Dannelle Olivares, Galesburg (Kalamazoo County)
Computer Technology, Kalamazoo County Education for Employment, Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools
Nominator: Mr. Michael Miller, (269) 370-2380; School Administrator: Ms. Deb Miller, (269) 385-1519.
 
Ashleigh Smith, Grand Rapids (Kent County)
Automotive Technology, Kent Career Technical Center, Creston High School
Nominator: Ms. Mary Haveman, (616) 891-6177; School Administrator: Mr. Kurt D. Johnson, (616) 891-2424.

Lisa Michelle Garnier, Adrian (Lenawee County)
Auto Services Technology, Lenawee ISD Vo-Tech Center, Madison School District
Nominator: Mr. Mark LaFollette (517) 263-2108; School Administrator: Mr. Ryan Rowe (517) 263-2108.

Ashley Kiplinger, Oxford (Oakland County)
Drafting and Design Technology, Oxford High School
Nominator: Mr. David Okasinski, (248) 969-1875, ext. 1844, School Administrator: Mr. Michael Schweig, (248) 969-5100.
 
Ashley Koczynski, South Lyon (Oakland County)
Automotive Technician, Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest, South Lyon High School
Nominator: Mr. Joel Massarello (248) 668-5644; School Administrator: Mr. Gary A. Farian (248) 668-5600.
 
Jenna Kunath, Sterling Heights (Macomb County)
Culinary Arts, Warren Consolidated Schools Career Preparation Center, Warren Cousino High School.
Nominator: Mr. Mark J. Prentiss (586) 825-2800 ext 17109; School Administrator: Mr. Frank Antonucci (586)825-2800.

Danielle Tolbert, Pontiac (Oakland County)
Automotive Technology, Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, Pontiac Central High School
Nominator: Mr. Daniel Juzswik, (248) 451-2700; School Administrator: Mr. Scott Harris, (248) 451-2700.

Amber Kay Pretty, Shelby (Oceana County)
Welding Technology, Newaygo County RESA Career-Tech Center, Shelby High School
Nominator: Mr. Aaron Brandon, (231) 924-8889; School Administrator: Mr. Kirk P. Wyers, Jr., (231) 924-0380.

Samantha Ann Faucher, St. Clair (St. Clair County)
Drafting and Design Technology, St. Clair County RESA Career Technical Center, St. Clair High School
Nominator: Mr. David Draper (810) 364-8990; School Administrator: Mr. Pat Yanik (810) 364-8990.
 
Audrey E. Ouillette, Mayville (Tuscola County)
Marine Biology, Tuscola Technology Center, Mayville High School
Nominator: Ms. Carmel Contardi, (989) 673-5300; School Administrator: Mr. Stephen Ley, (989) 673-5300.

Victoria Francis Scasny, Cass City (Tuscola County)
Auto Body, Tuscola Technology Center, Cass City High School
Nominator: Mr. Craig Searight, (989) 673-5300; School Administrator: Mr. Stephen Ley, (989) 673-5300.
 
John E. Little, Livonia (Wayne County)
Medical Assisting, Livonia Career Technical Center, Livonia Churchill High School
Nominator: Ms. Mary Trotter, R.N., MSN, (734) 744-2816; School Administrator: Dr. Janet Haas, (734) 744-2816.