TX-31 CTE nominations closed Jan. 8; winners to be honored Feb. 7

Nominations for the 2026 TX-31 Career and Technical Education High School Awards closed Jan. 8, Rep. John Carter’s office said, with winners scheduled to be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 7. The awards recognize outstanding high school students in TX-31, which includes Coryell County, who completed Career and Technical Education coursework during the 2024–25 school year.

CTE programs give students hands-on training and workplace-ready skills across 16 Career Clusters and 79 pathways, from manufacturing and information technology to health science and public safety. The awards program required a nomination form, a resume, a transcript that showed a CTE GPA of B or above and at least three CTE credits beyond introductory level, a student essay, and one recommendation letter from the student’s CTE instructor. Applications were accepted online through the deadline of Thursday, Jan. 8 at 5:00 PM.

For Coryell County students and families, the awards are more than trophies. Recognition can strengthen college applications, connect students to apprenticeship and job opportunities, and spotlight local CTE programs that pipeline workers into high-demand fields such as health care. In a county where access to local medical services and workforce capacity matter for community health, supporting students who pursue health science pathways is a practical investment in local care and resiliency.

The awards also reflect wider policy and equity questions about who gets access to CTE training. Rural students often face barriers - including transportation, limited course offerings, and uncertain funding for equipment and teacher recruitment - that can make it harder to meet award eligibility or to complete advanced CTE sequences. Local schools and policymakers can use nomination and recognition programs to identify gaps and target resources so that students from all backgrounds have a fair shot at CTE success.

Parents, students and school counselors who met the Jan. 8 deadline should watch for announcements Feb. 7. Those who missed the window can still benefit from the attention CTE brings to careers and training: counselors can help students map remaining credits, prepare stronger applications next year, and explore local pathways that lead directly to jobs or further education.

For questions about the awards or to find nomination details, Rep. Carter’s office listed information online at carter.house.gov/career-technical-education-award/. Our two cents? If you care about building a healthier local workforce, check with your high school CTE coordinator and keep an eye on transcripts and recommendation letters so students are ready when the next nomination window opens.