WHY do student organizations exist?

Student organizations in career and technical education that promote occupational excellence, leadership, and citizenship, are encouraged and supported by the Saginaw Career Complex. State policy specifies that a career and technical education student organization is an integral part of a high quality education program, and that "schools receiving added cost funds for career and technical education programs should have an active student organization program." Research tells us that the number two reason/predictor of a student's success now and in the future is their involvement in extra-curricular or co-curricular clubs, organizations, teams, or activities.

HOW do students benefit?

Joining one of Saginaw Career Complex's skill and leadership clubs will give students many leadership opportunities, and allow students to enter into local, regional and state skill competitions related to their technical program. The activities related to student organizations are another way for students to actively apply what they have learned in their program at the Complex, and the recognition of their achievements look great on a resume or college application! The Saginaw Career Complex is proud of our Complex's high state-wide rating in occupational club competitions!

WHICH organizations are available for students to join?

Student Organizations

• BPA: Business Professionals of America
• DECA: Distributive Education Clubs of America
• HOSA: Health Occupations Students of America
• SkillsUSA: Vocational Industrial Clubs of America
• FIRST: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

• FFA: National FFA Organization

Students who choose to join a student club or organization sponsored by the Saginaw Career Complex are expected to follow student conduct rules described in the Saginaw Career Complex Student Handbook and any additional requirements deemed appropriate by club sponsors.

Student Organizations

• Business Professionals of America. BPA is a co-curricular organization designed to meet the needs of middle school, high school, and post-secondary students enrolled in school-to-careers, vocational business and office education programs. Students have the opportunity to compete at the local, state, and national levels. 5454 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43231 (800-334-2007).
Web: http://www.bpa.org

• Health Occupations Students of America. HOSA promotes career opportunities in the ever-expanding health care professions while enhancing the delivery of quality health care for everyone. HOSA provides a variety of classroom and community-based educational experiences and 40 health care-related competitive events at the local, state, and national level. 6309 N. O'Connor Road, Suite 215, Irving, TX 75039-3510 (800-321-HOSA).
Web: http://www.hosa.org

• National DECA. An integral part of marketing education, DECA enhances the training of students with interests in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. It promotes competency-based, competitive marketing events and achievement/recognition activities at the local, state, and national levels. 1908 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1594 (703-860-5000).
Web: http://www.deca.org

• SkillsUSA. The goal of this organization is to develop employability, participatory and quality skills to complement the occupational skills developed by students in technical education classrooms or work-based learning sites. Students are able to demonstrate their skills in competitive events at the local, state, and national level. 14001 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, VA 22075 (703-777-8810).
Web: http://www.skillsusa.org/

• FIRST Robotics. FIRST stands for, "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology." It is a national program that gives students a hands-on experience guided by professional engineers to spark students' interest in science, mathematics, and technology. FIRST is best known for it's robotics competition in which a team of students, teachers, corporation engineers, and other corporation professionals design a robot in six action packed weeks. The goal of the FIRST competitions is to expose students to engineers and the engineering profession. Web: http://www.usfirst.org

• FFA. The Michigan FFA  Association and the National FFA Orgainzation are orgainzations that make a difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and caree success through agriculture education.  Today, almost half-a-million student members are engaged in a wide range of agricultural education activities, which can lead to more than 300 professional career opportunities.  Student success is the primary mission of FFA. 

Web:  http://www.michiganffa.com and http://www.nationalffa.org