On Friday, more than 300 students attended Billingsley School’s first program promoting career and technical education for students entering the workforce or going to college after high school.

To cap off February as Alabama Career and Technical Education Month, the school invited former alumni to speak to students in grades 7–12 about how participating in career- and technical-oriented classes and clubs helped them achieve their career goals.

Friday’s speakers were 2009 Billingsley graduate Scottie Hunter and a 1995 graduate Carla Moore Hornady.

Hunter is a news reporter/anchor for WVAS 90.7 FM, Alabama State University’s public radio station.

During his high school career, Hunter served as an officer in three statewide student organizations, Future Farmers of America, Junior Beta Club and Senior Beta Club.

In 10th grade, he was elected to serve as Alabama FFA treasurer.

“When I was in your shoes, I didn’t really like school,” Hunter said. “You have to do what you have to do to get where you want to go. School is very important.”

Hunter attended Alabama State University on a full scholarship and majored in communications.

He interned with WSFA Channel 12 and worked at WVAS in the afternoons as a DJ.

After graduation, he was hired by WTVY Channel 4 in Dothan before the opportunity at WVAS came up.

Hunter talked about the computer class he took in high school and said it helped him type quickly and efficiently in order to keep up with the fast pace of writing on deadline in a newsroom.

“I know the challenges you face, I know the pressures you feel and I know the hardships you overcome as teenagers,” Hunter said. “You don’t have to like school to be good at school.”

Hornady, a Billingsley resident, is director of cotton, soybeans, wheat and feed grain divisions with Alabama Farmers Federation in Montgomery.

In high school, she served as her chapter FFA president, Central Alabama District FFA president, Alabama FFA secretary and a Math and Science Club officer.

Hornady attended Auburn University and majored in agriculture.

Having been raised on a farm, Hornady said she knew at an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in the field of agriculture.

“I was lucky enough to grow up on a farm,” Hornady said. “That’s something that’s always been a part of my life.”

She encouraged students to get involved in clubs they are interested in before they graduate from high school to give them experience they can use in the workforce.

“Every step I took prepared me for where I am today,” Hornady said. “Think about where you’re headed, think about why you’re headed that way and how you’re going to get there.”