MEXICO — An Albany Township student who is in Telstar High School’s Top Ten, a music enthusiast and plans to become a doctor was named the Career and Technical Education Student of the Year at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology.

Karen White, a student in the vocational school’s certified nursing assistant program, was honored with 26 other CTE students of the year from across the state at a banquet in their honor earlier this month at the Lewiston Regional Technology Center.

“Since I was age 9, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I like working with and taking care of people,” she said.

White was one of four students at the banquet to receive a $1,000 scholarship. She received the one sponsored by U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine. The other three were donated by Maine Career Technical Education.

She decided to take the CNA course at Region 9 because she knew that everything she learned would be appropriate to her career goal. She has also volunteered at the Maine Veterans Home in South Paris.

Karen’s CNA teacher, Wendy Low, nominated her for Student of the Year.

“She’s an exceptional student, academically, clinically, and with outside activities. She’s always well-prepared and a model to her peers,” Low said. “I have no doubt that she will achieve her goals.”

Low said she often helps other students, works well independently, and sets a strong example for her peers. She has earned a 98 in Low’s CNA class.

Karen hopes to become an obstetrician. She has been accepted into the pre-med program at the University of Maine in the fall.

“I’m excited. It will be a different experience,” she said. “I’m excited about getting into the real world.”

She is also a talented musician who has traveled to out-of-state competitions, where she plays the trombone.

She knew she needed good grades to get into medical school, and has always put forth the extra effort.

She likes homework, finds it fun and easy to handle, she said.

In addition to playing in the band, Karen is the secretary and a member of the National Honor Society at Telstar, performs in the school’s musical productions, sings in the chorus, and has served on the Student Council all four years of high school.

“I’ve loved the experience here at Region 9. We learn something of interest and you can choose what you want,” she said.

She is the daughter of Rodney and Lorie White, and has an older sister, Kristi, who is majoring in criminal justice at Central Maine Community College.