This year’s conference for the Upper Rio Grande College Tech-Prep Youth Consortium’s 10th
Annual Regional Conference, Tomorrow’s Workforce Today!, was held in August, at the El Paso
Convention Center. Western Tech’s very own Mr. Jerry Martin was selected as a presenter which
featured a presentation about Western Technical College and focused on this generation of students
who live in a technology and ever changing world environment. The goal was to review how we relate to
these newest high school students and help provide them continuing education options.
Mr. Martin has 26 years in high school counseling and recruiting, he has earned his Bachelor’s
Degree in Business Administration after he retired from the US Army. He is currently working on his
Master’s Degree with Capella University. Jessica Martinez says, “We are very honored and happy to
invite Mr. Martin as a special speaker to our conference”. He comes very well recommended within the
education community.
Mr. Martin was honored at the conference with this year’s “Outstanding Administrator” award
by the College Tech-Prep consortium. This award recognizes all the hard work, dedication and effort Mr.
Martin has put in helping the El Paso and West Texas high school career and technology programs. Also
the recognition is for exemplary development and achievements in bringing business and education
together.
“Without the valued relationship of post secondary education, business and career and
technology programs in our high schools”, Martin said, “many students would graduate high school un-
prepared to enter the workforce”, and “that would devastate our economies”. With this relationship
and support, “we are preparing high school students for the workforce” or “continue their education
and master the technical skills needed in today’s high tech workforce”. College Tech-Prep creates a
place for this to happen. “I am very honored to receive this award and will continue to work with youth
and consortiums around the country. “
Michael Rodriguez, College Tech-Prep Director has only praise and admiration for Mr. Martin
and him receiving this award. “This man has never asked for anything back”, he is always open and
available to assist us in any way possible. We have scheduled valuable summer workshops at Western
Technical College for our teachers and they were nothing short of a huge success. He devotes time and
endless hours to help ensure we are on solid ground with our vision of the future for the youth of
Region 19.
