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SkillsUSA Georgia News 2008-2009 | |
Troup student gains ‘skills’ leading SkillsUSABy Andrea Lovejoy Editor
The Troup High Senior recently won the club’s region competition in prepared speech - and hopes to take state honors in the event next month. But, with a laugh, she explains that her “comfort zone” in the spotlight did not come easily. “I sure didn’t start out that way,” she said, recalling the first time she spoke in front of a SkillsUSA group at a state leadership conference her sophomore year. “The only way I got through it was that the lights were so bright, I couldn’t see the audience,” she said. “I read my whole speech, every word, looking down the whole time.” Personal growth is just one of the reasons Slagle is enthusiastic about the SkillsUSA program. She believes the group, formerly known as VICA, “bridges the gap” between industry and students, encouraging young people to build the employability skills they will need to succeed in the modern workplace - skills like communication, problem solving and leadership. “We learn how to present ourselves,” Slagle said. “As state president, I have gained a heightened love of leadership, but so much more.” The “more” includes writing and giving her own speeches in varied venues - from Washington, D.C., to the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta, where she sat at the head table of a banquet for 600 and introduced Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson. The “more” includes staying up-to-speed on current events and knowledgeable on issues in career education - everything from Perkins grants to bills before Congress. The “more” also includes extraordinary time spent with her mother, Amy Scott Hicks, a Troup High graphic design teacher and SkillsUSA adviser. Herself a former state-level student leader in 4-H, Hicks has watched with pride as her daughter blossomed in an organization to which they share strong commitment. “The skills I learned as a student in 4-H are the same skills I use every day in teaching,” Hicks said. “I know how good organizations like SkillsUSA can be for students and how much fun, too.” Spending extra time with her mom, Slagle said, has made her senior year even more special. “She’s made sure I had cough drops, extra pantyhose, whatever I needed. She’s held me together and been there for me every step of the way,” Slagle said. That included a recent trip to Lovejoy High School, where Slagle and NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson helped roll out a new program, Tough Tools for Cool Schools. Through a partnership be-tween Kobalt Tools, SkillsUSA and Lowe’s roughly $300,000 worth of tools will go to more than 500 Skills-USA building and construction trades classes and labs across the country for classroom use. Also on hand was NASCAR reporter Wendy Venturini of the Speed Channel, a former SkillsUSA member and national winner in Slagle’s event, the prepared speech competition. The two traded stories, and Venturini offered the local teen a few pointers. Slagle said her big regret was that her brother, Taylor Hicks, couldn’t go along. Also a Troup High senior, he won first place in the recent SkillsUSA automotive competition and will attend Nashville Auto Diesel College next year. As her term comes to an end next month, Slagle admits to bittersweet feelings. She and other Troup SkillsUSA members are doing what the organization teaches them to do - preparing for the future. They’ll help juniors McCall Butler and Tae Mays run for state office next month - the graphics class already is churning out campaign materials, as they did previously for Slagle. The Troup chapter, 130 students strong, is one of the largest and most active in the state. Slagle is making plans to enroll at Georgia Southern University next fall. She plans to study graphic communications and design. Slagle will graduate from Troup high with both career and college prep seals on her diploma - not unusual her teacher/mom points out. “People who think of career education as ‘vocational’ don’t know what we are doing… It’s hands-on, with a lot of learning. Technical education is taking what we learn in academic classes and using it. Teachers often hear students say, ‘When am I ever going to use that?’ Well, that’s what we do.” Slagle will take lots of memories with her - and a famous quote from Winston Churchill that’s become her motto. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It’s the courage to continue that counts.” Andrea Lovejoy can be reached at editor@ lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 237. Kendrick has gone to the Bugs!
The SkillsUSA members at Kendrick High School have been bugging since January. BUG, which stands for Bringing Up Grades, is a mentoring program between Kendrick High School and Georgetown Elementary. Every Monday and Wednesday, SkillsUSA members spend 2 ½ hours mentoring with kindergarten and third grade students. Because Georgetown is located across the street from Kendrick, this has enabled the members to work with the students on bringing up their grades. SkillsUSA members help kindergarten students study their sight words and help third graders review science and other assignments. Lovejoy High School receives tools for success NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson makes special delivery
Photo by Linda Looney-Bond - Three-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson unveiled the new paint scheme for his number Three-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson's number 48 Impala SS roared into the building-and-construction-trade classroom at Lovejoy High School Friday morning to a round of applause. Johnson made the appearance to launch the nationwide Tough Tools for Cool Schools program. The program is an initiative of Lowe's Home Improvement and Kobalt tools, designed to benefit the next generation of skilled, trade professionals, according to Tara Gudger, spokesperson for Johnson's race team. Lowe's is donating approximately $300,000 worth of Kobalt tools to more than 500 Skills USA building and construction trades classes across the country, Gudger said. Skills USA is a national, non-profit organization of students, teachers and industry members, working together to ensure that America has a skilled work force. During Friday's press conference at the high school, Lowe's officials marked the launch of the nationwide program by presenting the first set of tools to Lovejoy High School.
Photo by Linda Looney-Bond - Lovejoy High School students mingle at a press event Friday, during which the
Tough Tools for Cool Schools program was launched. Lowe’s is donating $300,000 worth of Kobalt tools to high school building-and-construction classes across the country. "My shop class was very important to my high school education," said Johnson, during the press conference. "I had a welding class ... an autoshop class, and a drafting class, and that kept me focused," he said, during an interview after the event. "The number 48 team knows how important it is to have the right tools to be successful," Johnson said. "This program is great, because we are literally putting those tools in the hands of students who need them and can use them to further their education." Lovejoy senior, Chaz Washington, 19, has participated in the school's building-and-construction class for four years. He said the donation will make a difference, especially for younger students, who are just beginning to take the class. "More kids [will] get to learn more, and get to do more, with better tools. Our tools are getting kind of old," he said. Washington credits the class with helping him plan future goals. "I plan to be an electrician. After high school, I plan on going to Georgia Tech. I plan to be my own boss in the future," he said. The kit being donated to schools is valued at approximately $600, according to Gudger. Each school will receive:
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Win with Peyton and Jig-A-Loo!It was announced on Tuesday morning that Zac Wood of Hart County High School had won the “Win With Peyton and Jig-A-Loo Contest”. Zac won a SkillsUSA Travel Scholarship from Jig-A-Loo by correctly guessing the number of laps that Peyton Sellers lead in the 250 lap Toyota All Star Showdown (televised on the SPEED channel). Peyton was driving the #83 Jig-A-Loo / SkillsUSA Chevrolet Car. Not only did Zac win a trip to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in June but he also won a free trip for his Advisor, Vicky Carter! Representatives from the Peyton Sellers Team and Jig-A-Loo will travel to Georgia to present the awards. In just a few short weeks, Zac will be competing at the Region 1 Championships in the area of Technical Drafting.
(Pictured: Vice President Katie Wehunt congratulating Zac Wood on winning the trip to SkillsUSA Nationals.) |
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DeKalb High School of Technology North Students use their technical skills
On December 13, DeKalb High School of Technology North SkillsUSA members took advantage of the opportunity to assist in the building of a home located at 1769 Snapfinger Road, Decatur, Georgia through DeKalb Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity's goal is to create simple, decent, affordable housing in DeKalb County. The First Nail Ceremony was held on December 6 for the home. Our members reported early in the morning to start the framing of the house. With other volunteers and SkillsUSA members the framing of the house was completed. This was a hands on experience for some of the construction students as they worked alongside Mr. Calvin Gray, construction instructor at DHST-N. John Corley, President of DHST-N SkillsUSA program stated, “this experience has provided me with a new carpentry skill to add to my electrical training”. Another student, Wilson Gomez, stated, “it felt good building a home for a deserving family, this was great community service.”
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