Freehold Regional High School Student Wins CTE Scholar Award

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Freehold Regional High School student is among 83 students to receive the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholar Award for the 2025-26 school year.

Colten Turner, who studies Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, was recently recognized for this accomplishment alongside the other award recipients by the NJ Department of Education (NJ DOE).

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The award program was established through a 2023 State Statute that calls for a program to recognize outstanding CTE students who meet specific criteria.

“New Jersey’s high schools and county vocational schools continue to offer innovative Career and Technical Education programs that help students gain the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to thrive in today’s most in-demand, high-skill, and high-wage careers,” said Dr. Lily Laux, Commissioner of Education. “These programs create meaningful pathways for students to explore their interests, develop valuable skills, and prepare for future success.”

“We are proud to recognize this exceptional group of CTE Scholar Award recipients and commend them for their hard work, achievement, and commitment to excellence,” Laux continued. “We congratulate them and look forward to all they will accomplish in the years ahead.”

The student awardees, all high school seniors, were nominated by their districts, which submitted nomination forms to the NJ DOE for review.

The law establishing the awards program sets forth specific criteria for awardees. Students must:

1. Demonstrate a high level of achievement in a CTE program as exemplified by course grades, industry-recognized technical assessments, and teacher recommendations;
2. Demonstrate a high level of achievement in at least three academic classes, as exemplified by course grades, end-of-course assessments, and teacher recommendations;
3. Complete a college-level course or a work-based learning experience, including, but not limited to, employment under a cooperative education agreement, an internship, or a work-based structured learning experience; and
4. Participate in a career and technical student organization or a community service project that demonstrates the application of career and technical skills.

CTE programs in New Jersey serve more than 72,000 students in grades 9-12, preparing them for college and careers.

These programs integrate a rigorous academic core with an advanced technical curriculum, offering opportunities for students to earn college credit, industry-recognized credentials, work-based learning, and participate in a career and technical student organization across 16 "Career Clusters" such as Computer Science, Engineering, Law and Public Safety, Health Science, Finance, Biomedical Science, Cosmetology, Automotive Repair and Technology, Culinary Arts, and Electrical Engineering.

The NJ DOE provided certificates of recognition that each district can download and present to their student awardees.

A list of all student awardees and additional information about the program is available on the NJ DOE’s CTE Scholar Award Program website.