(Santa Fe, NM)-The New Mexico State Department of Education (SDE) will celebrate "Career Technical Day," "Apprenticeship Day" and "Adult Basic Education Day" on Friday, February 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the state Capitol Rotunda. Legislators will recognize students and teachers from career technical student organizations, apprenticeship, Adult Basic Education and The Youth Conservation Corps.

"The goal of the day-long celebration is to emphasize the role that career technical, adult education and industry-training programs play, along with business and industry partners, in preparing students for the challenges and rewards of a career," said Lena Trujillo-Chavez, assistant superintendent for the SDE's Career (Vocational), Technical and Adult Services division. "These programs prepare workers for the occupations of today and tomorrow that are expected to experience the largest and fastest growth over the next decade."

Career Technical Day at the Legislature marks the completion of Career Technical Education Week, which students and faculty in career technical, adult education and a variety of industry training programs across New Mexico have been observing with a variety of activities.

Tim Lawrence, the national executive director for SkillsUSA-VICA, will join many teachers, students and other representatives taking part at the Capitol Rotunda. SkillsUSA-VICA is a national organization serving a quarter-million high school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations.

Other participants include TSA (Technology Student Association), a national nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to the needs of elementary, middle and high school students with an interest in technology, Distributive Education Clubs of America (DEC), serving 170,000 marketing students, 4,500 marketing teachers and 14,000 postsecondary Delta Epsilon Chi members, FFA, which strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education, and The Youth Conservation Corps, a summer employment program for young men and women ages 15 to 18 from all segments of society, who work, learn and earn together by doing projects on public land, Business Professionals of America and Family Career and Community Leaders of America.