Isabella Quintero is one of LCTI’s schoolwide award winners for the Class of 2026.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A career and technical service organization, or CTSO, is a co-curricular club where students develop leadership skills and test their technical prowess through competitive events.

This year’s CTSO Leadership Award winner is Isabella Quintero, a Parkland High School senior in our Early Childhood Education and Academic Center programs. The 17-year-old Upper Macungie Township resident is a member of SkillsUSA, one of eight CTSOs at LCTI. SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization that empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

Brian Faust, a supervisor of career and technical education at LCTI, honored Isabella on Thursday (May 28, 2026) at PPL Center during the school’s Class of 2026 Senior Recognition Night. The prestigious, schoolwide award was one of five presented at the ceremony. Cory Schnaufer, a school counselor and SkillsUSA advisor, nominated her for the honor.

Isabella is a SkillsUSA state competitor who has placed at the district level multiple years. She has served as the SkillsUSA president for multiple terms and attended the organization’s professional development conference and officer training sessions on multiple occasions. On top of all that, Isabella is a SkillsUSA fundraising queen who always steps up to help her peers while maintaining a fantastic attitude.

Choosing to attend LCTI was a life-shaping experience for Isabella. She explained, “When people ask me what my favorite thing about LCTI is, my answer will always be the staff. The teachers and staff members here truly care about their students and want every single one of us to succeed. They saw potential in us before many of us even saw it in ourselves.”

This year, Isabella became the ultimate LCTI ambassador. She led Pennsylvania’s education secretary on a walking tour of the school, served as the guide for a delegation of German leaders visiting our commonwealth and even filmed a segment on PBS!

After high school, Isabella plans to study special education at Kutztown University. She wants to become a special education teacher. She said, “I hope to one day make the same kind of positive impact on children that so many teachers and mentors have made on me throughout my life.”

Congratulations, Isabella! This is how we achieve! #weachieve