TCA celebrates educational milestone with tenth anniversary event

November 17, 2025

Maddy, Sha, Sami and Kaylie gave a perfect illustration this fall of the healthy impact The Career Academy has made on thousands of Lincoln Public Schools families.
 
The four health sciences students joined their classmates in a blood-pressure screening session during TCA’s tenth anniversary celebration. They checked vital signs of dozens of visitors at the event, which was held at TCA’s campus at 8800 O St. The future health professionals said it was exciting to prepare for their upcoming careers in a fun and engaging way.
 
“I loved showing people the process of how to do it,” Sha said. “It was fun to use the skills outside of class.”
 
“It allowed us to practice our skills on people besides our peers and allowed us to feel the sense of having a real patient,” Maddy said.
 
“I enjoyed meeting different people and getting different readings on people,” Sami said. “I also liked answering their questions and encouraging emergency medical training.”

 
Firsthand experiences like that have been the heartbeat of TCA for the past decade. The school, a partnership between LPS and Southeast Community College, offers both academic and real-world opportunities to students in more than a dozen career pathways.
 
High school juniors and seniors spend two hours each day at TCA taking lessons on everything from engineering to early childhood education. They complete their LPS degrees by taking their remaining courses at their home high schools.
 
TCA Principal/Director Josh Jones said he is proud of TCA’s growth since the building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in August 2015. Approximately 800 students are currently registered for courses throughout the day.
 
“We have grown the enrollment of The Career Academy by over 500 students,” Jones said. “This is due to our dynamic partnerships with the business community and the incredible experiences our students are offered through these partnerships. These experiences include unique field trips, guest speakers, career fairs and internship opportunities.”
 
The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools sponsored the tenth anniversary celebration on TCA’s campus. Foundation President Natalia Wiita said she enjoyed watching visitors share smiles with everyone at the event. Students showcased their career pathways with many activities on both floors of the building.
 
“This milestone is a celebration of students, families, educators and community members who have made TCA a success over the past decade,” Wiita said. “The impact of TCA reaches far beyond the classroom. Students are exposed to careers in the trades, earn valuable college credit and build confidence, strengthening their lives and the Lincoln community as a whole.”
 
Culinary arts students like Drake, Ruby and Tayvian said they had fun making food for guests to sample during the evening. Chef Christina Bugay guided them as they prepared a wide variety of hors d’oeuvres. They then beamed as visitors complimented them on their delicious work.
 
“I enjoyed cooking, doing something new and getting to see so many people enjoy the food,” Drake said. “I also liked cooking alongside my classmates and Chef.”
 
“We got to share with the public all of the skills we have been learning these past couple of years,” Ruby said.
 
“I liked the experience of serving people,” Tayvian said.
 
Knowledgeable teachers in all 16 pathways and dual-credit programs provide classes with a large amount of information. More than 150 business and industry professionals have also teamed up with TCA to offer important mentorship opportunities. They serve on pathway support groups that arrange field trips, provide industry-specific advice and help students expand their career networks.

 
Isabel, Ruby and Tayvian said cooking in TCA’s state-of-the-art kitchens has been a recipe for their personal success.
 
“TCA has given me a head start on my career,” Ruby said. “I was able to find something I love to do in high school, which is an amazing resource at a fraction of the cost of college.”
 
“TCA sparked my passion for school again,” Isabel said. “It made me more confident and ready for the world.”
 
“TCA has helped me see what my future could be like and helped me decide on a career I want to go into,” Tayvian said.
 
Sami said TCA has also helped her develop talents for her future career as a doctor. She said it has prepared her well for the rigorous coursework she will have both in college and medical school. Kaylie and Maddy agreed with their classmate about TCA’s benefits.
 
“I feel TCA has shown me lots of opportunities that will be helpful for my career,” Kaylie said. “It is a learning experience, and I have liked being part of it.”
 
“TCA is allowing me to gain a head start in knowing and confirming what I want to continue my studies for, as well as gaining connections and hearing information from those already in the healthcare profession,” Maddy said.

 
The tenth anniversary event offered students, teachers and guests a chance to celebrate those types of life-changing highlights. Sha said the supportive atmosphere illustrated why TCA has made a healthy difference for so many people.
 
“TCA is a huge help,” Sha said. “There are a lot of resources, and it’s given me an opportunity to be a leader and strive in our community. I also love the classes and the way TCA shows us what the college experience is like, so we can test the waters and see if we want to continue our journey.”
 
Want to test drive your future with The Career Academy? Visit tca.lps.org to learn more about the various career pathways available and how to apply for the next school year. 
 
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