From digital electronics to early childhood education, to fabrication, radiology to radiant energy, and everywhere in between, Career Technical Education helps students learn skills for the future. By the time the students graduate, they will have earned an education founded on rigor, career certifications, and on-the-job experience. The South-Western City Schools Career Technical Programs prepare students for two-year and even four-year colleges. Programs are available at the district's four home high schools and the South-Western Career Academy. Typically, two years in a single program are required to earn at least five credits, so students should choose carefully during their sophomore year for a two-year commitment to a program. Students coming out of each of these programs have the upper hand in landing a job because there is such a high demand in today's job sector for these skilled trades. For more information on Today's Career Technical Education, click on the About tab and view the videos, or click on the High School tab to read more.
The 2020-2021 MobileMakersEDU Winter Contest App Contest Winners Were Recently Announced!
Posted by: Wade Sellers on February 26, 2021
The MobileMakersEdu Winter Contest encourages students to take a deeper dive into the power of the iOS Swift coding language. Students are asked to explore independently all the tools and resources available to professional iOS software developers. Why is this important? We believe challenges like this help drive student agency and crucial skill development like problem solving, algorithmic thinking and communication.
This year, three talented professional iOS developers served as judges. We are so grateful for their volunteered time to review submissions from MobileMakersEdu high school students from across the globe.
THANK YOU to the 2020-21 Winter Contest Judges:
AND THE WINNER IS...
FIRST PLACE
The MobileMakersEdu Winter Contest encourages students to take a deeper dive into the power of the iOS Swift coding language. Students are asked to explore independently all the tools and resources available to professional iOS software developers. Why is this important? We believe challenges like this help drive student agency and crucial skill development like problem solving, algorithmic thinking and communication.
This year, three talented professional iOS developers served as judges. We are so grateful for their volunteered time to review submissions from MobileMakersEdu high school students from across the globe.
THANK YOU to the 2020-21 Winter Contest Judges:
- Jimmy McDermott - CTO at Transeo
- Patrick McCarron - Staff Engineer at M1 Finance
- Wade Sellers - iOS Developer Mentor at MobileMakersEDU
AND THE WINNER IS...
FIRST PLACE
- How To Make A Circle in Swift5 (CAShapeLayer) by Preston Harold & Gage Beatty of The South-Western Career Academy, OH
Congratulations to Derek Fitzer on receiving the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education Career Tech Teacher of the Year Award!

Derek Fitzer is the Mobile Applications Instructor at South-Western Career Academy. When the district was interested in beginning a new Mobile Applications program, Derek immediately came to mind as the instructor to begin and lead this new endeavor. He immersed himself in the program, making connections with the local College Credit Plus affiliation, and built one of the strongest programs in the district. He enthusiastically took on the challenge of learning the Swift Program Language and all the intricacies of App development. In its first year, 8 students were involved in the program, and it grew to 28 students in the second year. People who work with Derek describe him as kind, genuine, passionate, and warm. It is this warm demeanor, coupled with his passion for innovative teaching practices, that make Derek a critical component of his school and community.
Derek and his students created this video: If you can't go through it...go around it!
Missed the South-Western Career Academy’s Virtual Passport for the Class of 2020?
Check out the recording below!
Check out the recording below!
SWCA's CreatorCademy is Now Open!
The CreatorCademy is a "MakerSpace" housed in the school's library where students or classes can go to dream, collaborate, and create. Students can work with robotics, electronics, 3D design and print, virtual reality, programming, video, and lego creation. This space will continue to grow as more pieces are added. A special thanks to the South-Western City Schools Educational Foundation Grant for helping to make this space a reality. Check out our website for more information by clicking the button below!
SWCSD Career Days
Each high school hosted a Career Day in their gymnasium. During the school day, sophomores visited the gym and toured various career fields offered through the district. Student had the opportunity to speak with current program students, industry and business leaders, and experience live interactive tools and technology. Career Days will be followed by sophomore visits to the South-Western Career Academy where students will have the opportunity to tour the facility and visit their programs of interest. This will then be followed up by our Program Preview Night. Check below for the full schedule of events:
Congratulation to Welding and Manufacturing Senior
Kaden Booher!
Kaden Booher, a senior in Welding and Manufacturing, participated in a first time training partnership between Hilliard Schools, SWCS at SWCA, and Worthington Industries. Classes were held from January - May, and culminated in selective job offers and a signing day last Friday for seven students with Kaden being one of them. The final class project was design and installation of a playground, which is where the signing day was held.
Congratulations to Westland High School's Innovation and Entrpreneurship Team SolCase for Winning the
2019 Pitch Night!
Four teams, one from each high school, pitched their business/product start-up plans to judges in front of a live audience. Each team did a tremendous job with their presentations, while Westland High School's Team SolCase was the night's winner for their solar powered cellphone case that will not only charge your phone, but will also protect it.
The Business Professionals of America (BPA) National trip was a great success! Mikah Anderson (IMD) placed 9th in Digital Communications and Design Concepts and 11th in the nation in Graphic Design Promotion. Shawn Holt (Cyber Security) placed 11th in the nation in Computer Security/MTA Security Fundamentals and Marjorie Mendez (IMD) placed 59th in the nation in Digital Communications and Design Concepts.
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Interactive Media Design and Cyber Security Students Place at BPA Nationals in California!
Two Interactive Media Design Students Place
at the State BPA Competition
Clay Miesse and Cameron Wilks both placed in the digital publishing event at the BPA state competition. Cameron placed second, while Clay placed fourth. Both will move on to compete at nationals. Good job guys!
Cyber Security Students Compete in Capture the Flag Event
Twelve students from the Cyber Security program competed in a "capture the flag" event hosted by the Ohiio Cyber Collaboration Committee and Westerville City Schools in conjunction with the Ohio National Guard. In the event both high school and college students from several schools were given several networks to protect. For about half of the twelve students who attended, it was their first experience with this type of blind challenge. Cameron Metzger, Jacob Kifer, and Cody Ford placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectfully. Way to represent the South-Western Career Academy!
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Culinary Students Rise to the Challenge
Jordan Simmons and Jefferson Martinez's finished in 5th place with their "Sweet Heat" burger in the State Burger Battle Championship this weekend at the Pro Start Invitational.
The Culinary program fielded three teams for the 28 school Pro Start Invitational. The Hot Food Team finished a respectable 13th place amongst a loaded field of past national champions. Congratulations to first time contestants Adrian Gasca, Kyrah Stephens-Brown, Angeline Morales, and Jefferson Martinez.
The SWCA Management Team came home with a 3rd place finish in a very close contest for the top spot. Congratulations to Team Capt. Taby Stone, Stacy Suero, Khiayla Powell, and J'Ana McGimpsey for there hard work and dedication!
Individual Honors from the invitational also included: Adrian Gasca with a 3rd place finish in Top Knife Skills and Taby Stone with a 3rd place finish in Top Management.
Outstanding Job and Results for the SWCA Culinary Teams!
The Culinary program fielded three teams for the 28 school Pro Start Invitational. The Hot Food Team finished a respectable 13th place amongst a loaded field of past national champions. Congratulations to first time contestants Adrian Gasca, Kyrah Stephens-Brown, Angeline Morales, and Jefferson Martinez.
The SWCA Management Team came home with a 3rd place finish in a very close contest for the top spot. Congratulations to Team Capt. Taby Stone, Stacy Suero, Khiayla Powell, and J'Ana McGimpsey for there hard work and dedication!
Individual Honors from the invitational also included: Adrian Gasca with a 3rd place finish in Top Knife Skills and Taby Stone with a 3rd place finish in Top Management.
Outstanding Job and Results for the SWCA Culinary Teams!
Electrical Trades Students Take Part in Electrical Trades Center Workshop
Students from the Electrical Trades Program recently attended workshops at the Electical Trades Center of Central Ohio located in Columbus, Ohio. Students were able to learn from professionals and work together with hands-on activities that will prove valuable in their continuation of the program.