Why We Are Here

JVS Students to Compete at SkillsUSA Nationals

Four JVS students will be attending the 45th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri on June 21-June 26, 2009. Eric Mayberry will be a competitor, Sharon Freeman serves as the state secretary, and Danielle Jenkins and Adrian Shoffner will both be attending as voting delegates.

Mayberry, a junior HVAC student from Houston, placed first and was a gold medal winner at state and is eligible to compete at the national level in the sheet metal competition. He is the son of Todd and Sherri Bryant. Mayberry enjoys playing Xbox 360 and spending time with his friends. After graduation he plans to gain employment with an HVAC company.

Freeman is a junior in Cosmetology and is the daughter of Thomas and Kathy Freeman. She plays basketball and runs track for Houston High School and enjoys football, baseball, church activities and sign language. After graduation she plans to go to college to pursue a medical degree while working as a cosmetologist.

Jenkins is the daughter of David Jenkins and Kelly Anderson of St. Paris. She is a junior Cosmetology student and has been recognized at the JVS for Student of the Month, honor roll and perfect attendance. Her associate school activities at Graham include playing basketball, involvement in FFA and serving on the prom committee. She enjoys 4-H and hopes to continue her education in real estate after graduation.

Shoffner is an Electrical Trades junior and is the son of Marion and Kellie Shoffner of Port Jefferson. He was recognized as the Electrical Trades top junior and is an eligible apprenticeship student. Shoffner plays football and does power lifting for Sidney High School. He enjoys playing the drums, hunting, fishing and working on his truck. He plans to finish his apprenticeship training while working at Area Energy and Electric.

More than 15,000 people – including students, teachers and business partners are expected to participate in the week-long event. The SkillsUSA Championships Program will be held on Thursday, June 25 in H. Roe Bartle Hall and Municipal Auditorium. More than 5,000 outstanding career and technical education students – all state contest winners – will compete hands-on in 91 different trade, technical and leadership fields.

Students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry. Leadership contestants will demonstrate skills including extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings by parliamentary procedure. The competitions will be open to the public and free of charge.

Jodi Peake and Tony Trapp of Piqua serve as advisors and will accompany the students to Missouri.