KANSAS, Okla. -- Thousands of students from across the nation have been competing in state-wide contests as part of their chosen CareerTech Student Organization, and 10 students from the Northeast Tech Kansas Campus will represent Oklahoma at the national competitions during May and June.

SkillsUSA, Business Professionals of America (BPA) and the HOSA Future Healthcare Professionals are just three of several CareerTech Student Organizations available to students across the nation. Each organization hosts local, state and national competitions in which students put their trade skills to the test against peers from across the country.

"Our board and instructors realize the importance of these competitions, not only for the skills and professional networking opportunities it brings to the students, but also because it expands their world a little bit," said Northeast Tech Superintendent Fred Probis. "For that reason, our district sends a number of students to the competitions each year."

Among those going to the BPA National competition in Dallas are nine students from the Kansas Campus. Representing the Business Administration, Multimedia and Graphics Program, these nine students will represent not only their local district, but the entire state of Oklahoma.

Damon Fowler of Kansas, Okla., Daxton Shatswell of Locust Grove, Okla., and Chase White of Kansas, Okla., will compete in the Economic Research competition category, while their classmates Drake Thompson of Kansas, Okla., and Ashley Tindall of Twin Oaks, Okla., will represent Oklahoma in the digital publishing competition.

Meanwhile, in another area of the massive competition arena, Layla Evans of Colcord, Okla., and Summer Coleman of Colcord will vie for a medal for their administrative support research project, and Chasidy Blossom of Salina, Okla., will try to turn her state championship in fundamentals of desktop publishing into a national championship.

Jay, Okla., student, Jesse Downing, has already placed in the top 10 in the nation for his mobile application project, but he's eager to take on the competition at nationals.

"I'm nervous about presenting to so many people, but I'm looking forward to the experience it will give me and the possibility of helping give a good idea to the organization itself," Downing said of his project.

Among those going to the SkillsUSA National competition in Louisville is Summer Warren of Kansas, Okla., who is an electrical student at Northeast Tech. Warren is a second year student who placed first in her competition category -- industrial motor controls -- at the state competition.

"I am studying motor controls, code and electrical theory to prepare for the different aspects of the competition," Warren said. "During the summer, I will be working on the physical parts, like conduit bending and troubleshooting."

Warren -- who plans to attend Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and further her education in industrial engineering -- has about a month to prepare for her competition.

"I am determined to treat nationals like any other competition and keep a level head about the whole ordeal," Warren said. "I'm excited about the experience. I want to get out of my comfort zone to show myself that I am capable of what I aspire to do with my life."

Kansas Campus Director Greg Mitchell is not surprised at the number of students from his campus who are advancing to nationals, and he's hoping several will bring home a national championship.

"These students work for months to perfect the project or skill on which they're going to be tested, and while most of the credit goes to the students, I know our instructors are also an important part of our success in CTSO competitions," Mitchell said. "It won't surprise me one bit if one of our students comes home as a national champion."

General News on 05/16/2018