Action Items

• Explore highlights from Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.
• Coolidge students brought their media interviewing skills to the Destination DC (DDC) Member Open House.
• Thank you to all our participants during the DDC Member Volleyball Tournament.
• Secure your tickets for the annual AEF July 4th Celebration on a rooftop overlooking the National Mall.

Thank you to all who attended the DDC Member Open House. Coolidge High School's Academy of Mass Media hosted the AEF Recording Studio, where they practiced filming, interviewing and recording. Our media scholars interviewed industry professionals about their experience with DDC and collected over 30 testimonials.

While we wait to see the results, check out 2023's video. 

The annual DDC Member Volleyball Tournament was a huge success. Twenty DC hospitality industry teams went head-to-head on the court. Thank you to the participants and pep rally members. With your support, we raised funds to support three scholarship awards this year.

Congratulations to the winning AEF Wild Cards, representing Booking.com, Swingers the Crazy Golf Club, Chip Dizard Studios, TeRiBeLbLuE and Mangia Food Tours.

An honorable mention goes to the team with the most funds raised: Link Strategic Partners.

Thank you to supporting partners Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic, Events DC, and Aramark, and to friends Raising Canes, Modern Music Box, Vida Fitness, Deluca Massage & Body Work and Tap Snap.

February was CTE Month.

Across the city, CTE Academies celebrated student accomplishments as they prepare for college and their career. Academies provided special programming for students to network with industry professionals and showcase their school work.

Ballou High School hosted a Men in CTE Industry Panel with leaders representing culinary arts, IT, media, auto technology and hospitality industries:

• Chef Brandon Sumblin, Atlas Restaurant Group
• Alvin Boone, FBI
• Alan Atkinson, Platinum Media
• Michael Waters, WMATA
• Tahliq Mills, MGM National Harbor

“The Men in CTE Industry Panel has become an annual event that scholars and staff look forward to every year. Students can engage with professionals while learning about their various academic, training and career paths. Networking is the major take away from this event because our young men can see themselves reflected in careers they are currently studying in their academies.” – Calvin Ruffin, Career Academies Director, Ballou High School

Three of the Academies of Hospitality & Tourism (Ballou High School, River Terrace Education Campus and Idea Public Charter School) hit the road on a hop on hop off DC tour with Starr Tours this month.

They learned how to plan a bus tour in DC and visited the monuments and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Students also took a behind the scenes tour of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center from executive chef Houman Gohary that showcased the culinary team’s preparations for upcoming events.

Join AEF for the annual rooftop celebration on July 4th from 7-10 p.m. at the American Pharmacists Association. Your ticket supports scholarships for DC high school students.

• Enjoy great food, drinks and family-friendly fun.
• Experience DC’s spectacular fireworks from a private rooftop.
• Sponsor the event to show your company’s support.

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