By Emily Mentzer, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:00 am
Students in Skills USA aren't letting the economy slow them down.
Three members plan to attend the 45th annual Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Mo., from June 21 to 26.
First they need the money to pay for airfare, hotel, national registration, leadership training and food.
So they have been actively fundraising.
Chapter President April McLaren said that, with bake sales and car washes, they are almost done raising money.
The Skills USA teens sold cookbooks and cookies at the parent-teacher conferences April 30, and earned $98.
McLaren said she stayed up until 10 p.m. last Wednesday making 50 dozen snickerdoodles to sell at the Lebanon High School awards ceremony.
McLaren said a car wash will be held at Auto Zone May 30.
The three LHS students who plan to attend the conference include a gold medal winner and an Oregon state officer.
Grant Girdner, who took gold for extemporaneous speaking at the April 10 and 11 state competitions, will represent the state of Oregon in that category.
Edie Masters, who won second place in commercial baking during the state championships, was elected to be a state officer.
She will accompany six other state officers in leadership training.
The third student planning the trip is McLaren, who also hopes to receive leadership training while at the conference.
Neva Clausen, Skills USA advisor and culinary arts teacher, said the extemporaneous speaking category entails giving a three- to five-minute speech on a topic announced just five minutes before.
Clausen said most of the contests for the state competitions were held at the Linn-Benton Community College Albany campus, but the culinary competitions were held in her classroom at LHS.
Jennifer Girdner, Grant's mother, said Skills USA is a great opportunity to learn valuable abilities. She said the students did well at the state competition.
This is not the first year Lebanon students have competed in the national conference.
Clausen has been working with Skills USA since 1992. She said she averages 15 students a year in the program.
Skills USA offers experience in many skills.
Through the program, students compete in welding, construction, carpentry, photography, customer service, architecture, precision machining and much more.
Clausen said fundraising is part of the Skills USA life.
"We fundraise all year long," she said.
One way they fundraise is by hosting lunch on early release days.
Donations may be sent to Lebanon High School care of Neva Clausen at 1700 S. Fifth St., Lebanon OR 97355.