E.J. King NTHS chapter tops 5,200 schools in career development

Ms. Theresa Carl

May 18, 2026

NTHS Advisor Theresa Carl shares information about the National Technical Honor Society with students during EJ King Middle High School’s Sneak Peek event in Sasebo, Japan, August 2025. The booth helped introduce NTHS and recruit prospective members. (Stefanie Brown/DoWEA)

SASEBO, Japan – The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) chapter at E.J. King Middle High School has been awarded the prestigious NTHS Core Four Excellence Award, one of the highest honors given by the organization. The award recognizes the chapter’s outstanding achievement in one of four national focus areas and highlights the school’s commitment to excellence in Career and Technical Education (CTE).

Each year, the National Technical Honor Society selects only four chapters nationwide to receive the Core Four Excellence Award, with each chapter recognized for exceptional performance in one of the following areas: career development, leadership, service, or recognition. E.J. King Middle High School’s NTHS chapter was selected as a national winner for its exemplary contributions in Career Development.

This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of E.J. King students, who actively engage in meaningful projects, leadership opportunities, and career-focused learning experiences. Through their participation in NTHS, students develop essential skills that prepare them for future academic and professional success.

"It is a great honor to have been the President of this NTHS Chapter, which was one of the four chapters to earn this award this year,” said Luke Danjanic-NTHS President. “It was truly a team effort, and we showed that, despite the fact that we have only existed for two years, we have achieved the highest honor for an NTHS chapter."

The chapter’s achievements include hosting a school-wide CTE Career Fair, where more than 20 industry professionals visited campus to introduce students to a variety of career pathways and opportunities. In addition, NTHS members participated in monthly meetings featuring guest speakers, allowing students to hear directly from professionals about their career journeys and gain real-world insight.

Students also represented E.J. King Middle High School in the Japan Expo event, where they engaged with members of the local community by teaching and facilitating interactive mind games. This experience promoted cross-cultural connection, communication skills, and leadership.

These combined efforts contributed to the chapter’s national recognition and highlight the program’s strong impact on student growth, career awareness, and community engagement.