Success is a Journey: O & C Returns to Kentucky for National Competition ~ Felicity Weir

In the words of Tommy Hilfiger, “The road to success is not easy to navigate; but with hard work, drive, and passion, it is possible to achieve the 
American dream.”

Row 1:  Tabby, Felicity, Tristyn, Jenna
Row 2:  Jacob, Dayuna, Krista
The Hilfiger quote above inspired the team to end their
year ranked 6th in the nation!

Congratulations to Pennsylvania's 2016-17 gold medal-winning Opening and Closing Team from Lawrence County CTC consisting of Tabby Zang (EC/VT), Dayuna Reitenauer (NC/HA), Tristyn Gravatt (Un/CA), Jake Troutman (NC/Cot), Krista Berkley (La/Cos), Jenna Locke (EC/CA), and Felicity Weir (Sh/HA) who traveled to SkillsUSA National Championships in Louisville, KY on June 19-25th. 

After representing our state with pride, they successfully made it to the final top 13 (of 34 states) and competed once more to finish 6th in the nation! What an accomplishment!

Mr. Brown, the founder of the Brown Hotel, Pennsylvania's "home" for the week

Although they would have loved to bring home a gold medal from Kentucky, they did bring home something equally as important: Lifelong friendship -- that is the real gold. "As a team," considers Felicity Weir, "we have achieved something that many others were unable to. With five new members, we had to compete at districts, move on through states, and go as far as becoming national finalists, and then, after competing int he second round, ranking sixth in the nation! No matter our place, we are and always will be 'Champions at Work'.” That is an accomplishment to be more than proud of.

Checking out 4th Street; later this week, Louisville
hosted a party with live music aimed at attracting
more than 6,000 students who came to compete in more
than 100 contests!  Our team competed against
34 other state gold medalists!

More than anything, the underclassmen wanted to medal for Jake and Jenna, our seniors; after all, this was their last chance to represent LCCTC. Even though they dreamed of sending them home with a medal did not come to pass this year, these two seniors gained so much from being a part of  Opening and Closing; for example, after serving as president for the last year, Jake is using his extensive ability to remain calm in times of stress and lead by example as he continues on the United States Marine Corps. As a result of her extensive work with LCCTC's entire SkillsUSA chapter and as a three-year member of the team, Jenna was hired into a full-time position after graduation because of her ability to lead, communicate, and organize.

We are ready for Opening Ceremonies!

Being on the Opening and Closing team has been a learning experience for each member. Dayuna, sophomore and first-time national competitor states that, “At first I felt very nervous to compete but as I sat to realize I was over exaggerating my fears. I put on my 'big girl pants', and as a result, found my confidence. To be on a team like this -- it’s a blessing.”

Ready to ride the charter to the convention center

The team has dedicated themselves to do something others only wish they could do, and they did so with grace and dignity. They have made those who love them proud. They have made their school and community proud. “They have made me proud,” beams Mrs. McVicker.

This team knows how to have good, clean fun!

Looking back on this past school year, it is undeniable that the team has worked harder than ever before. "By the smiles on our faces after competing one final time," recalls Felicity,  "it is easy to say SkillsUSA has given each member an irrefutably passionate drive."

As state-gold medalists, the team earned the right to purchase
their very own SkillsUSA Carhartts, embroidered with their names

Outside of Skills, they have overcome many obstacles together, as a family first, and a team second. They have pushed through loss, personal frustrations, and academic struggles. Through constructive criticism, each has overcome personal fears and have individually grown. They supported each other through laughing, crying, smiling, and everything in between. Each and every one of them has found confidence and self-discipline. 

The energy of Opening Ceremonies is palatable!  Tristyn
and Dayuna are dancing in the wings!

“I know being a part of Skills has changed my life,” reflects Krista Berkley, “and I will always be grateful for what it has taught me so far.” She continues to state, “I wish that more people get to experience SkillsUSA -- especially Hershey -- even Nationals; it’s so much fun! That was by far the best experience of my life!” She loves it so much that she’s ready to start practice for the next year!

The convention center is thumping with great music flashing
lights, and a visit from Mike Rowe, staunch supporter of SkillsUSA
and those in the skilled workforce.  He called upon the audience to
check out his interview with Fox News earlier that day, because
we appreciate all he does for our CTCs,  here is the aforementioned interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ8qoIOBFxM&feature=player_embedded 

Though being on a team like Opening and Closing if a lot of fun, it’s a lot of dedication, as well. This group doesn’t shy away from hard work. Tabatha Zang is already to go back to practice and has her eye out for prospective business to meet for practice; “We can meet at this new coffee shop -- I’ll ask the owner if you’d like.” It seems like SOMEbody truly enjoyed the experience!

Felicity helps Tabby get all gussied up
for the first day of competition.

Everyone played a part in the successes of our kiddos. In addition to expressing great appreciation to their team coach, Mrs. McVicker-Shaffer and our assistant coach, PJ Shaffer (Mamma and Pappa Bear), a very big THANK YOU goes to the SkillsUSA Advisors for all of the tireless work it takes for all of our SkillsUSA kiddos to have what they need, to the administration for their unwavering support, to the JOC whose YES makes this possible, to the teachers and staff who work closely with the kids to keep them on top of their studies -- encouraging them every step of the way, to the students who cheer them on, to the custodians whose words of encouragement and adjustment to their schedules for practice days show the kids how important they are, and to the cafeteria staff who were kind enough to consider sending them with a few surplus snacks -- they appreciated it all!

Our resident cosmetologist, Krista puts on the
final touches to "her" hair!

Although this year’s chapter of "Buns, Pearls, and a Tie" may be closed, the nation hasn’t seen the last of us yet. They have many more pages that have yet to be written. As paraphrased by their coach, "We have all learned that 'anything that has worth is worth working hard for' -- which is exactly what we plan to do on our journey for next year."

Felicity makes sure every hair is in place

It was Earl Nightingale who once said, “All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.” Though a gold medal at the end of our story would have been greatly welcomed, They also understand that “success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” ~ Arthur Ashe

Tristyn makes sure she sports a business-look

Dayuna is all in with her transformation:
fun, red hair becomes business burgundy.  If
you don't believe it, check out her other pictures!

Jacob primps, too!

While everyone is buzzing about, this is Jenna, but somehow,
she makes it to the bus on time every time!

Preparing to enter the first round of competition. 

Our traditional team star

Nervous smiles all around -- now, the wait is on!  Did they make it to the
second round?

Anxiously awaiting the results of the first round.  They returned to the hotel
for lunch and a change of clothes before the finalists are revealed.  ...and...
THEY DID IT!  TWO YEARS IN A ROW, THEY MADE IT
TO THE FINALS!

Even though they made it to nationals and have passed
through to finals, practice doesn't stop.  Here, Jenna
realizes that this is her final practice -- and the team
responds as they always do...with hugs and loving tears.

It has been a wonderful year...

Post-practice -- waiting for pizza.

Sporting smiles after the second round of competition.
Yes -- there were mistakes, but they have come so far...
Five team members are rookies who had no idea
what they were getting in to and who had no idea
how fun it would be.

PJ's "allergies" acted up:  Tears of Pride!

...and Jake realized that this was his last performance with
his team...a second family!

How cool -- "Road to Success" t-shirts!

Forever friends...

Honoring our Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Congratulations, Austin and Jacob, LCCTC's first Valedictorian and Salutatorian!  We are so very proud of you, and we wish you the best of luck in the future!

Valedictorian:  Austin Woodruff

Shop:  Building Trades

Home School:  New Castle

Favorite Quote:  "Dream big, but do BIGGER!"  

Future Plans:  BC3 for General Studies

Most Memorable Point from his Speech:  "My teacher, Mr. Robert Seminara, once told me, 'The most rewarding things in life come from the hardest things in life. Whenever a challenge comes into your path, face it. The worst that could happen is you fail, and what do you do when you fail? You learn from it, and keep pushing forward'."

Salutatorian:  Jacob Troutman

Shop:  Computer & Office Technology

Home School:  New Castle

Favorite Quote:  "With great power comes great responsibility."  

~ Uncle Ben in Stan Lee's Spiderman

Future Plans:  Marines

Most Memorable Point from his Speech:  "To our families and loved ones, thank you. You are the ones who truly help make this possible. You supported the choice of that crazy kid who said they knew what they wanted to do with their lives. A choice that some of us made in 9th grade. Every great opportunity, from being able to learn a trade to pinning that tail on Mr. Milanovich would’ve been lost without your support. Class of 2017, the years we’ve grown together have been the greatest years of my life. I love you guys, and it’s hard to imagine a better group to have spent it with. If there’s one thing that we can take with us that will guarantee success, it’s that when we go through our day we will Be here. Be ready. Be respectful. And Be safe. Thank you and have a fanciful Friday."

Staff vs. Student Basketball Game

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it." ~ Heywood Broun

"Just pay.  Have fun.  Enjoy the game." ~ Michael Jordan

"Sports are such a great teacher. I think of everything they've taught me: camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences." ~ Kobe Bryant

"Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is." ~ Bob Feller

 

"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." ~ William Arthur Ward

"Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play." ~ Mike Singletary

"I live by 'Go big or go home.' That's with everything. It's like either commit and go for it or don't do it at all. I apply that to everything. I apply that to relationships, I apply that to like sports, I apply that to everything. That's what I live by. That's how I like it." ~ Paul Walker

"I treated it like every day was my last day with a basketball." ~ LeBron James

"The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory!" ~ Les Brown

FINAL SCORE: The teachers beat the students:  86-72

LCCTC Encourages Students to Read This Summer!

Would you like to enter English or CP English class with a few bonus points? Use this link and join our summer reading bonus class: https://newsela.com/quickjoin/#/PM4TW5  If you're already a Newsela user, just use this class code:  PM4TW5

How to start?

1. Either click on LIBRARY and select your favorite topic OR type in a key word (like DOG or CAR) and find an article that interests you. You can also join the Newsela Summer Reading program in addition to our summer reading bonus class, if you wish.

2. Begin reading. If the words/phrases seem to easy or too hard, change the Lexile level in the blue numbers at the right of the page if you're on a computer or if you're using a mobile app, change the level at the bottom: https://newsela.com/mobile/

3. Take the quiz (and get at least a 3/4.) If you score less, try to focus more next time, or re-read the article on a lower level and retake the quiz. If you score 100%, consider moving your Lexile level to challenge yourself.

4. Your goal -- read at least 2 articles per week this summer; can you read more? Of course! Just try to spread out your reading over time because avoiding cramming will actually help you develop as a reader.

Happy reading!!!

Commencement: Class of 2017

Congratulations, Class of 2017!

"Do all the other things, the ambitious things—travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes...but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness." George Saunders to Syracuse University in 2013

"Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."  Steve Jobs to Stanford in 2005

"And how do you know when you’re doing something right? How do you know that? It feels so. What I know now is that feelings are really your GPS system for life. When you’re supposed to do something or not supposed to do something, your emotional guidance system lets you know. The trick is to learn to check your ego at the door and start checking your gut instead." Oprah Winfrey to Stanford University in 2008

"Be bold, be courageous, be your best." Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to Bard College in 2013

"From my point of view, which is that of a storyteller, I see your life as already artful, waiting, just waiting and ready for you to make it art." Toni Morrison to Wellesley College in 2004

Real leadership comes from the quiet nudging of an inner voice. It comes from realizing that the time has come to move beyond waiting to doing." Madeleine Albright to UNC in 2007

"I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve." Maya Angelou to UC Riverside in 1977

" Thankfully dreams can change. If we’d all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses. So whatever your dream is right now, if you don’t achieve it, you haven’t failed, and you’re not some loser. But just as importantly—and this is the part I may not get right and you may not listen to—if you do get your dream, you are not a winner." Stephen Colbert to Northwestern in 2011

"The most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and to not give into peer pressure to try to be something that you’re not." Ellen DeGeneres to Tulane in 2009

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default." J.K. Rowling to Harvard in 2008

"Don’t be afraid of fear. Because it sharpens you, it challenges you, it makes you stronger; and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self." Ed Helms to Knox College in 2013

"Real courage is holding on to a still voice in your head that says, ‘I must keep going.’ It’s that voice that says nothing is a failure if it is not final. That voice that says to you, ‘Get out of bed. Keep going. I will not quit.’" Cory Booker to Yale University in 2013

“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” Stephen Covey

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” Dr. Seuss

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” JK Rowling