CTE Awards Recognition Ceremony 2025
The UFT commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Success Via Apprenticeship program at the 2025 Career and Technical Education Awards Recognition Ceremony, which was held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on Feb. 26. The UFT and the CTE industry gave out about 130 awards to union members and community partners and recognized 45 K-12 educators who have brought CTE into their classrooms. Many of the honorees trained under SVA, a program begun in 1984 to stave off a shortage of CTE educators.
Honoree Brenna McLaughlin (wearing pink), a photo teacher at Art and Design HS in Manhattan, celebrates with co-workers before the dinner.
Honoree Neil Syham, a culinary arts teacher at Francis Lewis HS in Queens, celebrates with his daughter.
About 1,000 people attend the event, whose theme was “Empowering Futures: Celebrating 40 Years of Legacy.”
Honoree Christel Monestine, who teaches drama at York Early College Academy in Queens, celebrates her CTE award with her husband and family.
Samantha Primo, an honoree and teacher at the High School for Innovation in Advertising & Media in Brooklyn, tears up when she sees her mother, who flew to New York from Florida to surprise her at the event.
Brooklyn CTE educators show off their awards, which were presented by UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford (left), UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education High Schools Leo Gordon (right) and Brooklyn HS Representative Charles Di Benedetto (top row, left).
Fordham HS for the Arts teacher Linda Key (left) receives the Stanley Schair CTE Teacher of the Year Award from a presenter with Google.
Members of the Edward R. Murrow HS gospel chorus entertain the attendees during the dinner portion of the event. Earlier, the school’s jazz band performed.
Award recipients from the Bronx are joined by UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left, 1st row), Gordon (2nd from right, 2nd row), Bronx HS Representative Dario Shore (right, 2nd row) and UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hines (right, 1st row).
Frank Carucci (second from left), a former UFT vice president for CTE high schools who received the UFT Legacy Award, is congratulated by (from left) Gordon, former UFT Vice President for CTE High Schools Sterling Roberson and Mulgrew, who also once served in that position.
Award winners from Queens are joined on stage by Mulgrew (left), Queens HS Representative James Vasquez (right) and UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro (second from right).
CTE award winners from Manhattan celebrate their awards with Mulgrew (back row, left), Gordon (back row, right) and UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (front row, middle).
Teachers Corissa Martinez (left) and Irma Gianni of IS 145 in Queens hold up special recognition awards they were asked to turn on at the end of the celebration. The awards went to teachers at elementary and middle schools and some non-traditional high schools who are incorporating CTE into their teaching.
Staten Island CTE award winners hold the awards they received from Mulgrew and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese (right).
Karina Budhu, a fourth-year SVA apprentice, receives the Edwin Espaillat Award from Gordon.
Honoree Brenna McLaughlin (wearing pink), a photo teacher at Art and Design HS in Manhattan, celebrates with co-workers before the dinner.
Honoree Neil Syham, a culinary arts teacher at Francis Lewis HS in Queens, celebrates with his daughter.
About 1,000 people attend the event, whose theme was “Empowering Futures: Celebrating 40 Years of Legacy.”
Honoree Christel Monestine, who teaches drama at York Early College Academy in Queens, celebrates her CTE award with her husband and family.
Samantha Primo, an honoree and teacher at the High School for Innovation in Advertising & Media in Brooklyn, tears up when she sees her mother, who flew to New York from Florida to surprise her at the event.
Brooklyn CTE educators show off their awards, which were presented by UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford (left), UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education High Schools Leo Gordon (right) and Brooklyn HS Representative Charles Di Benedetto (top row, left).
Fordham HS for the Arts teacher Linda Key (left) receives the Stanley Schair CTE Teacher of the Year Award from a presenter with Google.
Members of the Edward R. Murrow HS gospel chorus entertain the attendees during the dinner portion of the event. Earlier, the school’s jazz band performed.
Award recipients from the Bronx are joined by UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left, 1st row), Gordon (2nd from right, 2nd row), Bronx HS Representative Dario Shore (right, 2nd row) and UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hines (right, 1st row).
Frank Carucci (second from left), a former UFT vice president for CTE high schools who received the UFT Legacy Award, is congratulated by (from left) Gordon, former UFT Vice President for CTE High Schools Sterling Roberson and Mulgrew, who also once served in that position.
Award winners from Queens are joined on stage by Mulgrew (left), Queens HS Representative James Vasquez (right) and UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro (second from right).
CTE award winners from Manhattan celebrate their awards with Mulgrew (back row, left), Gordon (back row, right) and UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (front row, middle).
Teachers Corissa Martinez (left) and Irma Gianni of IS 145 in Queens hold up special recognition awards they were asked to turn on at the end of the celebration. The awards went to teachers at elementary and middle schools and some non-traditional high schools who are incorporating CTE into their teaching.
Staten Island CTE award winners hold the awards they received from Mulgrew and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese (right).
Karina Budhu, a fourth-year SVA apprentice, receives the Edwin Espaillat Award from Gordon.
Honoree Brenna McLaughlin (wearing pink), a photo teacher at Art and Design HS in Manhattan, celebrates with co-workers before the dinner.
- 1 of 15
- 2 of 15
- 3 of 15
- 4 of 15
- 5 of 15
- 6 of 15
- 7 of 15
- 8 of 15
- 9 of 15
- 10 of 15
- 11 of 15
- 12 of 15
- 13 of 15
- 14 of 15
- 15 of 15
CTE award winners from Manhattan celebrate their awards with Mulgrew (back row, left), Gordon (back row, right) and UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (front row, middle).
Teachers Corissa Martinez (left) and Irma Gianni of IS 145 in Queens hold up special recognition awards they were asked to turn on at the end of the celebration. The awards went to teachers at elementary and middle schools and some non-traditional high schools who are incorporating CTE into their teaching.
Staten Island CTE award winners hold the awards they received from Mulgrew and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese (right).
Karina Budhu, a fourth-year SVA apprentice, receives the Edwin Espaillat Award from Gordon.
Honoree Brenna McLaughlin (wearing pink), a photo teacher at Art and Design HS in Manhattan, celebrates with co-workers before the dinner.
Honoree Neil Syham, a culinary arts teacher at Francis Lewis HS in Queens, celebrates with his daughter.
About 1,000 people attend the event, whose theme was “Empowering Futures: Celebrating 40 Years of Legacy.”
Honoree Christel Monestine, who teaches drama at York Early College Academy in Queens, celebrates her CTE award with her husband and family.
Samantha Primo, an honoree and teacher at the High School for Innovation in Advertising & Media in Brooklyn, tears up when she sees her mother, who flew to New York from Florida to surprise her at the event.
Brooklyn CTE educators show off their awards, which were presented by UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford (left), UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education High Schools Leo Gordon (right) and Brooklyn HS Representative Charles Di Benedetto (top row, left).
Fordham HS for the Arts teacher Linda Key (left) receives the Stanley Schair CTE Teacher of the Year Award from a presenter with Google.
Members of the Edward R. Murrow HS gospel chorus entertain the attendees during the dinner portion of the event. Earlier, the school’s jazz band performed.
Award recipients from the Bronx are joined by UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left, 1st row), Gordon (2nd from right, 2nd row), Bronx HS Representative Dario Shore (right, 2nd row) and UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hines (right, 1st row).
Frank Carucci (second from left), a former UFT vice president for CTE high schools who received the UFT Legacy Award, is congratulated by (from left) Gordon, former UFT Vice President for CTE High Schools Sterling Roberson and Mulgrew, who also once served in that position.
Award winners from Queens are joined on stage by Mulgrew (left), Queens HS Representative James Vasquez (right) and UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro (second from right).
CTE award winners from Manhattan celebrate their awards with Mulgrew (back row, left), Gordon (back row, right) and UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (front row, middle).
Teachers Corissa Martinez (left) and Irma Gianni of IS 145 in Queens hold up special recognition awards they were asked to turn on at the end of the celebration. The awards went to teachers at elementary and middle schools and some non-traditional high schools who are incorporating CTE into their teaching.
Staten Island CTE award winners hold the awards they received from Mulgrew and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese (right).
Karina Budhu, a fourth-year SVA apprentice, receives the Edwin Espaillat Award from Gordon.
Honoree Brenna McLaughlin (wearing pink), a photo teacher at Art and Design HS in Manhattan, celebrates with co-workers before the dinner.
Honoree Neil Syham, a culinary arts teacher at Francis Lewis HS in Queens, celebrates with his daughter.
About 1,000 people attend the event, whose theme was “Empowering Futures: Celebrating 40 Years of Legacy.”
Honoree Christel Monestine, who teaches drama at York Early College Academy in Queens, celebrates her CTE award with her husband and family.
Samantha Primo, an honoree and teacher at the High School for Innovation in Advertising & Media in Brooklyn, tears up when she sees her mother, who flew to New York from Florida to surprise her at the event.
Brooklyn CTE educators show off their awards, which were presented by UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford (left), UFT Vice President for Career and Technical Education High Schools Leo Gordon (right) and Brooklyn HS Representative Charles Di Benedetto (top row, left).
Fordham HS for the Arts teacher Linda Key (left) receives the Stanley Schair CTE Teacher of the Year Award from a presenter with Google.
Members of the Edward R. Murrow HS gospel chorus entertain the attendees during the dinner portion of the event. Earlier, the school’s jazz band performed.
Award recipients from the Bronx are joined by UFT President Michael Mulgrew (left, 1st row), Gordon (2nd from right, 2nd row), Bronx HS Representative Dario Shore (right, 2nd row) and UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hines (right, 1st row).
Frank Carucci (second from left), a former UFT vice president for CTE high schools who received the UFT Legacy Award, is congratulated by (from left) Gordon, former UFT Vice President for CTE High Schools Sterling Roberson and Mulgrew, who also once served in that position.
Award winners from Queens are joined on stage by Mulgrew (left), Queens HS Representative James Vasquez (right) and UFT Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro (second from right).
CTE award winners from Manhattan celebrate their awards with Mulgrew (back row, left), Gordon (back row, right) and UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell (front row, middle).
Teachers Corissa Martinez (left) and Irma Gianni of IS 145 in Queens hold up special recognition awards they were asked to turn on at the end of the celebration. The awards went to teachers at elementary and middle schools and some non-traditional high schools who are incorporating CTE into their teaching.
Staten Island CTE award winners hold the awards they received from Mulgrew and UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese (right).
Karina Budhu, a fourth-year SVA apprentice, receives the Edwin Espaillat Award from Gordon.
Honoree Brenna McLaughlin (wearing pink), a photo teacher at Art and Design HS in Manhattan, celebrates with co-workers before the dinner.
