Congratulations to the Bradley Central High School CTE Student of the Year Finalists!!!

Kylie Estrada

CTE Student of the Year Finalist

Kylie Joelle Estrada, a Bear Scholar graduate at Bradley Central, has focused her CTE studies in Health Sciences, specifically, nursing.   She has enjoyed serving in many leadership roles. She is the student council Vice President, HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) Co-President, an officer in National Honor Society, member of the Chick-fil-a Leadership Academy, and the founder of Court Cuties (a group that works the concession stand for the basketball games).  By being a part of these clubs, she has grown as a person and learned that in order to be a true leader she must first know how to serve others. 

She has been able to lead and participate in many service projects. She participated in “A Night to Shine,” “ACT Study Day,”  “Literacy Party,” “Teacher Appreciation,” “Notes Week,”  “Firefighter Chili,” and monthly National Honor Service projects. She helped to provide health screens and checks to the students at Bradley Central High School and worked as a CNA in the mornings before school, using her Nursing Assistant Certification she earned in her CTE classes.  She has served on the medical staff for Peerless Road Church, where as a worship team member, she has assisted in the church nursery, a Backpack Giveaway and served groceries to the homeless and needy.  Along with participating in any church activity/fundraiser she can, she attended a mission trip to Panaba, Mexico where she spent 10 days ministering and helping develop children’s ministries and programs there.

Kylie has been involved in HOSA each year of high school and is currently Co-President. She has led many service projects with that club such as donating to The Caring Place, offering her services in health screenings, and leading a Halloween trick or treat for special needs students at Bradley.  She has also participated in Night to Shine, a special needs prom led by Tim Tebow’s organization, for the past four years through HOSA. Competing each year in HOSA at regionals, state and twice at nationals, she was a first place regional HOSA winner in the Dental Science category, finishing in the top ten at State. Kylie has been on the Gold Honor Roll since the 6th grade and is a B’s and Bars recipient. She was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship to Lee University, where she has also competed 12 dual credit hours toward pre nursing through Lee University and was selected as a Lee University Rymer Scholar.

HaLee Kazy

CTE Student of the Year Finalist

HaLee Kazy, a Cambridge scholar who will be receiving her AICE Diploma, has focused in Agricultural Sciences and is currently President of the FFA at Bradley Central High School.  She has attended various leadership training events, including FFA Leadership camp and 212/360 Leadership Conference.  She has utilized the experience gained in these leadership activities to build connections with her fellow students to improve their experiences in high school. She is currently one of 18 state FFA officer candidates and hopes to continue practicing these leadership skills by helping lead the TN FFA during the 2020-2021 school year. 

HaLee has assisted in River Rescue, Night to Shine and Rise Against Hunger.  As the 2019-2020 National Honor Society Vice President, HaLee played a leading role in activities such as the “Literacy Party,” “Adopt a grandparent,” “Parents Night Out,” and “Spring Fling.”  As a Beta Club Member, she has attended State Convention where she won first place in their state Ag-Science Bowl. She is a three year officer in the FFA where she has played a major role in the success of “Farm Day,” the Greenhouse Sale, and the National Chapter Award.  Each year, her participation in Poultry Evaluation, Meats Evaluation, Equine Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation and Floriculture Career Development Events has earned her “Freshman of the Year,”  “Sophomore of the Year,” “Junior of the Year,” and “Senior of the Year” recognition in the FFA Chapter.  She has been active in 4-H events such as Land Judging, the swine project, and she represented Bradley County 4-H at the 2020 Tennessee Cattleman’s Convention where her youth livestock team won 1st place in the Livestock Quiz Bowl earning the right to represent Tennessee at the 4-H National Livestock Quiz Bowl at the North American Livestock Expo in Louisville, Kentucky.

HaLee won a $500 scholarship for her team’s first place finish at Tennessee Tech’s Ag-Science Quiz Bowl in 2017.  She received six hours of college credit for being accepted and completing the 2019 Tennessee Governor’s School for Ag-Sciences.  She has served as the Chair of the Parliamentary Procedure Team for the last three years and has recently been recognized as the 2020 Boyd Trew Scholarship Recipient and the Dekalb Leadership Award.

Kaylei Peak

CTE Student of the Year Finalist

Kaylei Peak, a 2020 Bear Scholar graduate of Bradley Central High School, has focused in A/V Production and has served as both President of the National Honor Society and Vice President of Skills USA.  She has planned, led and attended community service projects such as “Fables and Fairytales,” the Salvation Army’s “Angel Tree,” “Parents Night Out,” and has volunteered at several parent-involvement events at Oak Grove Elementary School.  

 In April 2019, Kaylei and a partner used technical skills they had acquired in Audio/Visual Production classes to create a PSA that showcased the importance of CTE courses to compete at the state-level in the National Skills USA competition.  In November 2019, she competed in the technology portion of the TN Beta Convention.  She and her partner developed a video expressing how Beta Club prepares today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders. They won 3rd place and are now eligible to compete at the National Beta Convention in June.  

Her studies gave her the opportunity to work closely with Scott Webb, BCS Instructional Technology Coordinator, to edit and write for Bradley County Schools monthly newsletter “The Director’s View.”  This experience enhanced her writing ability and professional publication experience while inspiring her to pursue journalism as a career.

Jacob Long

CTE Student of the Year Finalist

Jacob Andrew Long has focused on Mechatronics and Principles of Machining during his time spent at Bradley Central High School. Jacob is a leader in his studies, often demonstrating his robots to multiple companies and to the school board.  Jacob has participated in “Stem on the “Greenway,” “Stem Nights,” and the annual “Ashley Lauren Clothing Drive.”

Jacob was the head programmer in the State Robotics team for Skills USA.  He served as the head programmer on the BETA Robotics Team, which placed 1st in the State and 5th in the Nation. He became the STEM Ambassador for BAYER during 2018 after winning an essay competition and scholarship to the Space Academy. Through CTE, Jacob has been mentored by an environmental engineer from WACKER which has allowed him to gain another perspective in the field of engineering. 

Jacob has developed various machining skills, as well as numerous trouble-shooting skills in the field of mechatronics. He has accumulated dual-enrollment credits in machining with TCAT as well as in mechatronics at Cleveland State. Jacob hopes to gain an engineering degree at UTC.  With a Siemens level I Certification and a NIMS Certification, Jacob has a great head start.

Emily Swafford

CTE Student of the Year Finalist

Emily Swafford will graduate as a Bear Scholar at Bradley Central High School as an Education and Training and Family Studies concentrator.  As Vice President of FCCLA her junior year and President her senior year, she has assisted, led and organized many community service projects for Bradley Central and the community.  She has played a major role in the success of such activities as STEM on the Greenway, Showtime Savvy, Bears vs. Harvey, Red Ribbon Week, Paws for a Cause, the Special Needs Prom, Hands for the Homeless, Community Outreach, and Prom Perfect. She was selected to be a part of the T4 Committee, which is a drug prevention group whose goal is to educate middle schoolers on the dangerous effects of using drugs. She has completed nine mission trips to El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Topsail Beach, NC, and Clarkston, GA.  She also assists her church’s children’s church and Vacation Bible School.

During Emily’s junior year, the TAP class created the Educators Rising Club at Bradley Central High School to be implemented the following year. She became a member of the Educators Rising Club her senior year, where the main project was a Kindness Campaign. She has maintained a 4.0 in her TAP classes and Family Studies classes. She won first place in the “Classroom in a Box” competition and competed in “My Teaching Portfolio.” She was an intern for a fourth-grade class at Oak Grove Elementary School with Mrs. Trish Sherlin. This internship will advance her future plans to become an elementary teacher. 

Emily has been a member of FCCLA her entire high school career. Her sophomore year, she competed in the Star Events, state competition, where she placed fourth.  She has had perfect attendance for two years.  She was a Silver medalist at FCCLA state competition two times and a 1st place medalist at FCCLA district competition.  She received the Superlative: “Most Likely To Return As A Teacher.”