Press Release

Metropolitan Education District 760 Hillsdale Ave San Jose, CA 95136 May 29, 2009

Contact: Michelle Alaimo Communication Specialist (408) 723-6464 malaimo@metroed.net

Central County Occupational Center's (CCOC) 40th Annual Awards Ceremony

More than 175 Central County Occupational Center students will be honored at CCOC's 40th Annual Awards Ceremony on May 29 at 6 p.m. Former CCOC graduate and current Peterson Holding Company employee Trevor Mosher will serve as the keynote speaker.

Mosher completed three certificate programs in two years while attending CCOC. He became involved in Caterpillar’s Think Big program and completed the program while earning his Associate of Science (AS) degree. Mosher then went on to be the first Caterpillar employee to move from the Caterpillar store to Service Truck Operator in only three years—which normally takes six years.

Each student will receive certificates or financial awards for outstanding achievements made within their CCOC classes during the 2008-09 school year. Awards are given in three categories: achievement, honors, and service.

The awards, which start at $75, were donated by various businesses, organizations, individuals, CCOC instructors, and former students. Nearly every organization sponsoring an award will have a representative present to give out their scholarship. Four students are slated to receive the President’s Award which is a nationally recognized sponsored by the US Department of Education. Several students will also be recognized for earning $4,000 scholarships from the Grove Foundation and two students will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Millennium Enterprises, a company founded by a former CCOC student.

Awards Ceremony invitations and programs were designed by CCOC Graphic Design student, Eleazar Ruiz.

In addition to recognizing scholarship winners, students with perfect attendance for the school year will receive the Principal’s Award. The Awards ceremony will kick-off with a uniform fashion show, with students displaying the uniforms they wear for each career choice taught at CCOC.

CCOC--a unit of MetroED--provides career-technical education for high school students in six districts: Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Milpitas Unified School District, San Jose, Unified School District, and Santa Clara Unified School District. Students from each of the six districts will be receiving awards.

For more information on CCOC or the 40th Annual Awards Ceremony, contact Michelle Alaimo at 723-6464 or malaimo@metroed.net.

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MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 30,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.