KHS Earns Outstanding CTE Award

Kearney High School Honored with State CTE Award for Excellence in Career & Technical Education

Kearney High School has been named the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Secondary Program Award by the Nebraska Department of Education for its exceptional Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings. This prestigious statewide honor recognizes programs that exemplify innovation, academic excellence, and alignment to Nebraska’s workforce needs.

The CTE award celebrates schools and instructional programs that go above and beyond in preparing students for college and career success. Kearney High School’s CTE program was selected for its demonstrated excellence in multiple quality indicators, including:

• Student success in both academic and career pathways
• Innovative instruction aligned to Nebraska’s Career and Technical Education Model
• Robust student leadership development through CTSOs such as FBLA, FCCLA, DECA, and SkillsUSA
• Extensive use of work-based learning opportunities and career guidance
• Strong community partnerships that support student learning and workforce readiness
   

“We are incredibly proud of our students, staff, and community partners who make this program thrive,” said Jason Mundorf, Superintendent of Kearney Public Schools. “This award affirms what we already know—Kearney High School’s career and technical education programs are preparing students not only for today’s careers, but for the workforce of the future.”

KHS offers a wide range of CTE pathways, including Agriculture, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Business, Skilled and Technical Sciences, and more. The program integrates classroom learning with real-world experience, ensuring students graduate with valuable skills and credentials.

Principal Jeff Ganz added, “This recognition is a direct reflection of our dedicated teachers and students who put in the hard work every day. Our CTE instructors are constantly innovating and collaborating with local industries to provide meaningful, real-world learning experiences. It's exciting to see that effort recognized at the state level.”

Kearney High School was recognized at the Nebraska Career Education Conference today, where award winners from across the state were honored for their leadership and impact in career education.