Spotlight - Summer06

Duncanville (Texas) High School students, including a cancer survivor, have organized American Cancer Society Relay for Life fund raisers for several years, instructor Belinda Mahone says. The relays are held in memory of Denise McClung, a Duncanville graduate who taught at the school for 25 years.

To date, the students have raised more than $28,000 selling bracelets and magnets and collecting donations. Efforts also include bake sales held by culinary arts students and movie nights organized by technical media students.

SkillsUSA members in Kingsland, Ga., build a handicap-accessible house for an injured veteran.

Photo and story content: Stella Hatzikazakis, Tribune and Georgian, Camden County, Ga.

Navy Seabee Jeff Blackmon had only been in Iraq for a month when a mortar attack left him paralyzed from the neck down. Now, his community has pulled together to build a bigger and better home for Blackmon and his family.

SkillsUSA members at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Ga., joined Blackmon’s sons and members of the Navy and Marine Corps to build the house next to the current home in Browntown.

“It’s a great opportunity to help Mr. Blackmon,” SkillsUSA leader Carlos Jones Jr. says. “It’s an awesome thing and I’m glad we have the ability to help him.”

Students with Dr. John Mangini, dean of communications and industrial technology, at Metropolitan Community College, drawing a winning raffle ticket.

SkillsUSA high school students at Metro Community College’s Career Academy in Omaha, Neb., teamed up to raise nearly $1,000 to cover state competition expenses.

Small engine repair, precision machining, welding and electrical students held a raffle for donated prizes including $100 cash, 20 gallons of gas with a car wash, a welded sculpture and 18 yards of vinyl floor covering.

In addition, precision machining students will graduate with occupational specialist diplomas from the college and a chance to finish an associate’s degree early. Instructor David Eledge says the students have “risen to the occasion” and mastered college-level skills.

Madison, Wis., students in East High School’s woods classes invited a carpenter, a bricklayer, an iron worker and two members of the National Guard’s engineering unit to discuss apprenticeship opportunities. This gave them a chance to see good careers that pay workers as they learn, advisor Dave Thompson says.

SkillsUSA recognizes the 2005-2006 participants in our Chapter Standards program, which helps teachers track student growth and meet local and state requirements. It’s free, and it’s online here.

Alabama: Keith Andrews, Northeast Alabama Community College, Albertville; Myron Laurent, state director, Montgomery

Arizona: Larry Lebsock, Cibola High School, Yuma; Gary Townsley, Cactus High School, Glendale

Arkansas: Laryssa Blunt, National Park Technology Center, Hot Springs; Scottie Burchett, Beth Jackson, Regina Woodard, Saline County Career Center, Bauxite; Eunice Calhoun, Conway Career Center; Mary Lavergne, Malvern High School

Florida: James Higley, Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton; Stephen Mazzatenta, Sheridan Technical Center, Cooper City; Orlando Saavedra, Marchman Technical Education Center, New Port Richey

Georgia: Michael Evans, Lagrange High School; Lori Gray, Chapel Hill High School, Douglasville; David Green, Technical Education Center, Carrollton; Cheryl Rees, Kendrick High School, Columbus; Ron Smith, Brooks County High School, Quitman; Annette Williams, Carver High School, Columbus

Kentucky: Jim Cash, Shelby County Area Technology Center, Shelbyville; Roc Moore, Harrodsburg Area Technology Center; Edwin Moss, Warren East High School, Bowling Green

Louisiana: Josh Artigue, Smith Career Center, Lafayette; Suzanne Guillory, Louisiana Technical College Gulf Area, Youngsville

Maryland: Ronald Foster, Sollers Point Technical High School, Baltimore; Lynn Patterson, Frederick Douglass High School, Baltimore; Dennis Peaton Jr., Carver Vocational Technical High School, Baltimore; Sandra Wetzel, Parkside High School Career and Technical Education Center, Salisbury

Massachusetts: Pam Daoust, Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School, Charlton

Michigan: Steve Lick, Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center, Allegan; Todd Olson, Kent Career and Technical Center, Kentwood

Missouri: Katrina Mawhiney, Dallas County Career Center, Louisburg; Renee Riley, Carthage Technical Center; Jack Stow Jr., North Kansas City Career and Technical Center

New Hampshire: Terry Berube, Salem High School; Mollie Chase, Manchester School of Technology

New Jersey: Robert Hayden, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Mays Landing

New York: Chuck Dennis, Smithtown High School East; Christina Falcone, Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park; Sandra Flynn, Capital Region Career and Technical School, Albany; John Reen, Harkness Center, West Seneca

North Carolina: Bryce Culin, Scott Meserve, West Johnston High School, Benson; Phyllis Forehand, Bertir High School, Colerain; Ricky Kennedy, Wallace-Rose Hill High School, Beulaville

Ohio: Edward Brewer, Remington Allied Health, Berea; Leah Morgan, Lancaster City School, Rushville; Pamela Vorkapich, Wayne County Career Center, Smithville; Patti White, Morgan High School, McConnelsville

Pennsylvania: Kimberly Kucas, Upper Bucks County Area Vocational Technical School, Perkasie; Ed Powell, North Fayette AVTS, Connellsville; Shari Wilkinson, Crawford County AVTS, Meadville

Tennessee: Lonny Baggett, Rossview High School, Clarksville; Kathy Bullock, Nicole Camarillo-Roning, Wilson Central High School, Lebanon; Todd Collins, Hickman County High School, Centerville; John Davis, Cumberland Gap High School; Chip Harris, Tennessee State University, Mt. Juliet; Jerry Monroe, Roane County High School, Kingston; Steven Pickerill, Independence High School, Thompson’s Station; Lain Teague, Middleton High School

Texas: Beth Cassidy, Angleton High School; Annette Gabbert, Technical Education Center, Sugar Land; Don Sharp, Texas State Technical College, Waco; Kenneth Stewart, Flour Bluff High School, Corpus Christi

Washington: Keith Kuniyasu, River Ridge High School, Lacey; Bill Miles, Elma High School




	Fund raisers held to honor special teacher Saying thanks through service Smells like team spirit Learning that pays Chapter Standards participants Duncanville (Texas) High School students, including a cancer survivor, have organized American Cancer Society Relay for Life fund raisers for several years, instructor Belinda Mahone says. The relays are held in memory of Denise McClung, a Duncanville graduate who taught at the school for 25 years. To date, the students have raised more than $28,000 selling bracelets and magnets and collecting donations. Efforts also include bake sales held by culinary arts students and movie nights organized by technical media students. Top of Page SkillsUSA members in Kingsland, Ga., build a handicap-accessible house for an injured veteran. Photo and story content: Stella Hatzikazakis, Tribune and Georgian, Camden County, Ga. Navy Seabee Jeff Blackmon had only been in Iraq for a month when a mortar attack left him paralyzed from the neck down. Now, his community has pulled together to build a bigger and better home for Blackmon and his family. SkillsUSA members at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Ga., joined Blackmon’s sons and members of the Navy and Marine Corps to build the house next to the current home in Browntown. “It’s a great opportunity to help Mr. Blackmon,” SkillsUSA leader Carlos Jones Jr. says. “It’s an awesome thing and I’m glad we have the ability to help him.” Top of Page Students with Dr. John Mangini, dean of communications and industrial technology, at Metropolitan Community College, drawing a winning raffle ticket. SkillsUSA high school students at Metro Community College’s Career Academy in Omaha, Neb., teamed up to raise nearly $1,000 to cover state competition expenses. Small engine repair, precision machining, welding and electrical students held a raffle for donated prizes including $100 cash, 20 gallons of gas with a car wash, a welded sculpture and 18 yards of vinyl floor covering. In addition, precision machining students will graduate with occupational specialist diplomas from the college and a chance to finish an associate’s degree early. Instructor David Eledge says the students have “risen to the occasion” and mastered college-level skills. Top of Page Madison, Wis., students in East High School’s woods classes invited a carpenter, a bricklayer, an iron worker and two members of the National Guard’s engineering unit to discuss apprenticeship opportunities. This gave them a chance to see good careers that pay workers as they learn, advisor Dave Thompson says. SkillsUSA recognizes the 2005-2006 participants in our Chapter Standards program, which helps teachers track student growth and meet local and state requirements. It’s free, and it’s online here. Alabama: Keith Andrews, Northeast Alabama Community College, Albertville; Myron Laurent, state director, Montgomery Arizona: Larry Lebsock, Cibola High School, Yuma; Gary Townsley, Cactus High School, Glendale Arkansas: Laryssa Blunt, National Park Technology Center, Hot Springs; Scottie Burchett, Beth Jackson, Regina Woodard, Saline County Career Center, Bauxite; Eunice Calhoun, Conway Career Center; Mary Lavergne, Malvern High School California: Steve Heck, Western High School, Anaheim Colorado: Michael Payne, Warren Tech, Lakewood Connecticut: Christine Lofgren, Wolcott High School Florida: James Higley, Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton; Stephen Mazzatenta, Sheridan Technical Center, Cooper City; Orlando Saavedra, Marchman Technical Education Center, New Port Richey Georgia: Michael Evans, Lagrange High School; Lori Gray, Chapel Hill High School, Douglasville; David Green, Technical Education Center, Carrollton; Cheryl Rees, Kendrick High School, Columbus; Ron Smith, Brooks County High School, Quitman; Annette Williams, Carver High School, Columbus Idaho: Kathryn Muscat, Jerome High School Illinois: Gloria Oleksyk, Prosser Career Academy, Chicago Indiana: Larry Truitt, Ben Davis Career Center, Indianapolis Kentucky: Jim Cash, Shelby County Area Technology Center, Shelbyville; Roc Moore, Harrodsburg Area Technology Center; Edwin Moss, Warren East High School, Bowling Green Louisiana: Josh Artigue, Smith Career Center, Lafayette; Suzanne Guillory, Louisiana Technical College Gulf Area, Youngsville Maryland: Ronald Foster, Sollers Point Technical High School, Baltimore; Lynn Patterson, Frederick Douglass High School, Baltimore; Dennis Peaton Jr., Carver Vocational Technical High School, Baltimore; Sandra Wetzel, Parkside High School Career and Technical Education Center, Salisbury Massachusetts: Pam Daoust, Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School, Charlton Michigan: Steve Lick, Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center, Allegan; Todd Olson, Kent Career and Technical Center, Kentwood Mississippi: Shannon Burts, Fallin Career and Technology Center, Natchez Missouri: Katrina Mawhiney, Dallas County Career Center, Louisburg; Renee Riley, Carthage Technical Center; Jack Stow Jr., North Kansas City Career and Technical Center Nebraska: Jack Jenkins, Norris High School, Firth Nevada: Stanley Gardner, Advanced Technologies Academy, Las Vegas New Hampshire: Terry Berube, Salem High School; Mollie Chase, Manchester School of Technology New Jersey: Robert Hayden, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Mays Landing New Mexico: Mary Anderson, Deming High School New York: Chuck Dennis, Smithtown High School East; Christina Falcone, Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park; Sandra Flynn, Capital Region Career and Technical School, Albany; John Reen, Harkness Center, West Seneca North Carolina: Bryce Culin, Scott Meserve, West Johnston High School, Benson; Phyllis Forehand, Bertir High School, Colerain; Ricky Kennedy, Wallace-Rose Hill High School, Beulaville Ohio: Edward Brewer, Remington Allied Health, Berea; Leah Morgan, Lancaster City School, Rushville; Pamela Vorkapich, Wayne County Career Center, Smithville; Patti White, Morgan High School, McConnelsville Oklahoma: Anita Parks, Metro Technology Centers, Oklahoma City Oregon: Carol Hansen, Oregon City High School Pennsylvania: Kimberly Kucas, Upper Bucks County Area Vocational Technical School, Perkasie; Ed Powell, North Fayette AVTS, Connellsville; Shari Wilkinson, Crawford County AVTS, Meadville Puerto Rico: Antonio Munoz, Republic of Costa Rica, Las Piedras Tennessee: Lonny Baggett, Rossview High School, Clarksville; Kathy Bullock, Nicole Camarillo-Roning, Wilson Central High School, Lebanon; Todd Collins, Hickman County High School, Centerville; John Davis, Cumberland Gap High School; Chip Harris, Tennessee State University, Mt. Juliet; Jerry Monroe, Roane County High School, Kingston; Steven Pickerill, Independence High School, Thompson’s Station; Lain Teague, Middleton High School Texas: Beth Cassidy, Angleton High School; Annette Gabbert, Technical Education Center, Sugar Land; Don Sharp, Texas State Technical College, Waco; Kenneth Stewart, Flour Bluff High School, Corpus Christi Virginia: Bryan Wareham, Colonial Heights Technical Center Washington: Keith Kuniyasu, River Ridge High School, Lacey; Bill Miles, Elma High School Wyoming: Darryl Wadsworth, Star Valley High School, Afton Top of Page

	Features \| Ask Tim \| What's New \| Gold Standard \| Spotlight \| Toolbox \| Image \| Top of Page Submissions \| Advertisers \| Credits \| Issue Index SkillsUSA Champions \| Summer 2006 \| Volume 40, No. 4 Copyright ©2006 SkillsUSA. All rights reserved.