Eighteen teams of middle and high school students from eight states competed at the 2026 AASHTO Bridge Challenge event on April 13 in Savannah, GA – a national contest held in conjunction with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2026 Spring Meeting.
TECH Center students from the Engineering, Design, & CAD program competed in this national competition and took third place in the 11th- and 12th-grade division! Congratulations to Alyson Miller, Alek Novesky, and Aron Novesky!
Kim Benson, the instructor of the Engineering, Design, & CAD program, explained to the AASHTO Journal that these types of hands-on contests – combined with field trips to visit actual bridge structures – help “connect the dots” between students and careers in many types of STEM fields, including engineering.
“Many of the kids I’ve taught have never built anything before, so this type of competition generates a lot of excitement,” she said. “It generates a lot of energy and engagement between the students and the engineering work they are doing.”
Link to Article
We’ve expanded age ranges to give more students a chance to jump in:
• Creative Coding is now open to ages 8–10
• Junior Firefighters is now open to ages 9–14
And here are a few camps we’re especially excited about:
PowerUp PC Camp (all three weeks) | Ages 11–13
Campers get hands-on with real computer hardware like CPUs, GPUs, RAM, and storage while learning how computers actually work. With team challenges, troubleshooting, and gaming, students build confidence and problem-solving skills while exploring careers in IT and technology.
Can You Dig It | June 15 | Ages 14–17
Perfect for students who love the outdoors, this camp dives into green careers. Campers will run experiments, use real industry equipment, and work directly with plants while learning about landscaping, science, and sustainability.
Livestock Legends | June 29 | Ages 12–16
From sheep and goats to cattle and rabbits, campers will gain hands-on experience with livestock. They’ll learn animal care, feeding, grooming, and even what judges look for, all leading up to a fun mock livestock show on parent day.
These camps are built for curious minds, hands-on learners, and students ready to explore future careers in a fun and engaging way.
Spots are limited, so now is the time to sign up and secure your place!
Learn more and sign-up at lisd.us/camps
#LenaweeEducation #LenaweeISD #LISD #CareerExplorationCamps #SummerCamp
With 24 nominations this year, they earned three NATAS Student Production Awards in different categories. Congratulations to Lydia Boley in Audio and Sound, Sophia Stock in Animation, Graphics, and Special Effects, and Olivia Gillespie in Director.
They were also recognized with nominations across several other categories, highlighting the depth of talent in this program. We are proud to see their creativity and hard work recognized on such a big stage.
Here are a few photos from the event!
#NATAS #LenaweeEducation #LenaweeISD #LISD #LISDTECHCenter #DigitalMedia #CTE
Our 2026 Reverse Job Fair brought together talented students and local employers for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect, network, and showcase the skills that are shaping tomorrow’s industries. Instead of students searching for opportunity, opportunity came to them.
From skilled trades to technical careers and beyond, today was a powerful reminder that the next generation is ready to lead, create, and make an impact.
Thank you to every employer, partner, staff member, and student who helped make this event such a success. The future is bright, and it was in the room today.
#LenaweeISD #LISD #LenaweeEducation #ReverseJobFair #CTE #CareerReady
Lisa Dunlap’s Nursing Preparation class took advantage of the sunshine with an ice cream stop as they count down the final days of the school year. With coursework nearly complete, these students are getting ready tackle their next chapter after high school.
Over the weekend, TECH Center students traveled to Grand Rapids for the SkillsUSA state competition. A number of students earned medals as they competed against some of the top CTE students in Michigan.
CNC Programming
Fennix Bagrowski- Bronze (Machining and CAM)
SkillsUSA Professionalism Test
Wyatt Beal- Gold (Collision)
Brodan Carman-Gold (Collision)
Connor Thumme-Gold (Collision)
Ennio Shimborske- (Digital Media)
Eli Jones-Gold (Welding)
Ethan Rising-Gold (Welding)
Eli Rupp-Gold (Welding)
Automotive Refinishing
Connor Thumme-Gold (Collision)
Collision Damage Appraisal
Jered Wyant-Gold (Collision)
Action Skills
Emma Willett-Gold (Hospitality)
Pin Design
Elizabeth Cameron-Gold (Graphic Design)
T-Shirt Design
Keegan Gray-Gold (Graphic Design)
Savannah Lester-Silver (Graphic Design)
GTAW
Dayne Tinkey-Gold (Welding)
SMAW
Nolen Rumsey-Gold (Welding)
OFC
Quintin Clark-Silver (Welding)
Welding Overall
Eli Rupp-Bronze (Welding)
Plumbing
Donnie Kline-Bronze (Building Trades)
Crime Scene Investigation-Team
Leah Thorton-Bronze (Law Enforcement & Corrections)
Logan Tanner-Bronze (Law Enforcement & Corrections)
Avery Hively-Bronze (Law Enforcement & Corrections)
Congratulations to all of our students!
#LenaweeEducation #LenaweeISD #LISD #SummerCamp #CareerCamps
Students built bridges, made presentations, and created a detailed business case proposal while competing in this event.
Our students displayed great leadership while at the event!
This was a great season for our team. Students competed at a high level and gave great effort throughout the year!
Tonight we celebrated our National Technical Honor Society inductees with two ceremonies for AM and PM students due to the large number of students honored. From the Presentation of Flags by our Law Enforcement and Correction Cadets to a powerful live National Anthem, it was a night to remember and we are so proud of their leadership and accomplishments.
View the full album at lisd.us/photos
#LenaweeISD #LISD #LenaweeEducation #NTHS #LISDTECHCenter
Our Motorcycle Safety Basic Rider Course teaches you everything from the basics to the confidence you need on the road, and it even includes a riding test waiver when you pass.
It's not too late to get registered for an April class!
Get started here: lisd.us/motorcycle
This weekend, students from the Marketing & Entrepreneurship and Horticulture programs competed in the CEO Challenge Pitch Competition hosted by Junior Achievement.
Three teams represented our programs, pitching innovative business ideas they’ve been developing throughout the year.
Carliey Clack (Onsted) and Lexi Jarrell (Clinton) presented Track-Start-Smart, an influencer inventory management app designed to help content creators track, manage, and monetize the products they receive from brands.
Taylor McLaughlin (Sand Creek) and Brady Mullins (Sand Creek) pitched Great Lakes Native Seed Co., a business focused on providing native seeds to support local ecosystems and sustainable landscaping. Their strong performance earned them a spot in the semi-finals.
Declan Cornish (Tecumseh) and Brody Wenn (Clinton) took 1st Place, winning $1,000 with their concept WasteXchange, an AI powered app to help keep waste in the loop of production.
The competition was intense, requiring students to pitch multiple times in a bracket-style format. After starting the day in the lead, our teams slipped to 7th and 8th place out of 14 teams in round two. Instead of getting discouraged, they used the judges’ feedback between rounds to refine their presentations, strengthen their messaging, and come back stronger each time they stepped on stage.
What stood out most this weekend wasn’t just the results—it was the growth, resilience, and professionalism our students showed throughout the competition. Each team has developed a real business concept they hope to continue pursuing beyond this event.
To top it off, our teams were invited by State Representative Kathy Schmaltz to attend a Junior Achievement event at the Michigan Capitol this May to showcase their work.
We are incredibly proud of the hard work, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit these students demonstrated all weekend. The future of innovation is bright!
This weekend, students from our Accounting and Computer Information Services programs traveled to Grand Rapids, MI for the Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference.
It was an incredible experience! Our students competed against regional finalists from across Michigan, attended professional development workshops, explored future opportunities at the college fair, and made some fantastic memories.
We are incredibly proud of all our competitors and are thrilled to announce our award winners:
🥇 Payroll Accounting
1st Place: Lauryn Richards (Tecumseh)
6th Place: Yandel Hernandez (Adrian)
🥈 Fundamental Accounting
2nd Place: Lauryn Richards (Tecumseh)
4th Place: Eva Garcia (Adrian)
5th Place: Trevyn Brasili (Tecumseh)
🥉 Advanced Accounting
3rd Place: Zavier Callahan (Onsted)
💻 Device Configuration & Troubleshooting
4th Place: Isaiah Simonds (Homeschool)
6th Place: Max Parayno (Madison)
💡 Information Technology Concepts
7th Place: Alexandra Hall (Onsted)
Competing against the top regional finalists in Michigan, these students proved they are among the best in the state. Because of their outstanding performances, they have officially qualified for the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN this May!
Whether they were scouted for internships or just sharpening their networking skills, these students showed up and leveled up. The future of business is looking bright! 📈🌟
