AWARDS-SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN AT C-GCC SENIOR APPRECIATION NIGHT

(05/19/2009)

David White and Karen Kirby (back) awarded C-GCC
Scholarships to (left-right) Hannah Wilson, Emily
Wright, Jennifer Papouschek, not pictured Jesse Hardman

Submitted by Kris P. Snyder
Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center

Senior Appreciation Night activities were held at Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center May 14.

A reception was held for 2009 seniors, post graduates, GED graduates and their guests, prior to the awards program.

The ProStart Culinary Arts program prepared the refreshments and the Criminal Justice program prepared a slide show of senior photos for the reception. The theme for this year was "Take the Next Step".

John Bennett, director of Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center welcomed seniors and their guests, and introduced members of the Administrative Council and other special guests. Faculty Senate President, Patricia Cain introduced the faculty as they presented their students with a souvenir C-GCC key chain.

Each year the Career Center awards four scholarships to graduating students who plan to pursue a career in their field of study while attending the Career Center. Mr. David White, counselor and National Technical Honor Society advisor, and Calhoun Middle-High School principal Mrs. Karen Kirby recognized this year's winners: Jesse Hardman, Jennifer Papouschek, Hannah Wilson and Emily Wright with a certificate and $100 scholarship.

GED Award - Linda Jones and James Jones

Mrs. Linda Jones, GED instructor, presented James Jones of Big Springs with the award of GED Student of the Year. Mrs. Jones also nominated him for West Virginia's GED Student of the Year for his hard work and perseverance in the three year quest to attain his GED.

Attendance Award - (L-R) Patrica Cain, Hannah Wilson, Nasia Butcher

Mrs. Patricia Cain and Gilmer County High School principal Mrs. Nasia Butcher presented a certificate and medallion to Hannah Wilson for perfect attendance for the 2008-2009 school year.

Gainer Award - (L-R) Roger Propst,
Weston Hershey, John Bennett (back)

The Earl J. Gainer Career Technical Education Student of the Year was established in 1990, to pay tribute to Mr. Gainer and to honor the student who best exemplifies career technical excellence. In selecting the recipient of this honor, the committee attempts to award an individual who demonstrates the same outstanding qualities possessed and utilized by Mr. Gainer. Calhoun County Schools Superintendent Roger Propst presented a commemorative clock and $200.00 scholarship to Weston Hershey.

Oshoway Award - John Oshoway, Jennifer Papouschek, Sue Oshoway

Jennifer Papouschek received the Melissa Sue Oshoway Memorial Criminal Justice Scholarship for $1000.00. This scholarship was presented by Mr. and Mrs. John Oshoway and Mr. Michael Jackson, Criminal Justice instructor.

Yanni Scholarship - (L-R) Samantha Loudin, Karen
Blankenship, and C-GCC Director, John Bennett

Mrs. Karen Blankenship, Health Occupations instructor, presented a certificate to Samatha Loudin for receiving the Albert Yanni Scholarship. Established in 1989 by the West Virginia State Board of Education, the Albert Yanni Scholarship is awarded to outstanding vocational-technical students who plan to pursue post-secondary education or training in a related career or technical field. There are only 20 statewide scholarships awarded annually in the amount of $2000.00.

Self Award - (L-R) Chef Annette
Benson, Stephanie Wood, Keith Burgess

Chef Benson presented the Cindy Self Memorial Scholarship for $250 to Keith Burgess and Stephanie Wood. The Cindy Self Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students in the ProStart Culinary Arts program who intend to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Whipkey Award - (L-R) Dustin Howes,
Mike and Nancy Whipkey, Jim Pierce

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Whipkey with the assistance of Mr. Jim Pierce, the retired Automotive Technology instructor, presented the Micheal P. Whipkey, II Memorial Automotive Scholarship for a gift certificate for a tool set from Sears and plaque to Dustin Howes.

Mr. David White, counselor and National Technical Honor Society advisor, presented Weston Hershey, Samantha Loudin, Stanley McLaughlin, Joshua Parsons, Barbara Richards, Hannah Wilson, Stephanie Wood and Emily Wright with their honor cords, tassels and diploma seals. New inductees also received a certificate, letter of recommendation and NTHS pin.

Mr. Bennett and Ms. Rosemary Williams, Gilmer County High School guidance counselor, presented Tech Prep Honor Cords to seniors and post graduates who successfully completed four core classes in their career and technical program. The seniors and post graduates listed above along with the following seniors, who completed their program as juniors, received their cords: Tiffany Boggs, Brandy Bonnett, Whitley Church, Charlie Collins, Patrick Cundiff, Brittany Ferguson, Amanda Freeman, Cora Freeman, Dennis Husk, Jesse King, Johnny King, Harold McCumbers, Kristi Messenger, Michael Skaggs, Brian Sprouse, Andrew Stump, Zachary West.

Career Readiness Certificates, a system certifying the basic skills necessary for success in typical jobs, has become popular nationwide. Governor Joe Manchin's office is now awarding such certificates based on ACT WorkKeys test scores in reading for information, locating information and applied mathematics. Tests are scored on a scale of one through seven, seven being the highest score.

A bronze certificate is awarded to those who score threes or above on the assessments. Students receiving a bronze Career Readiness Certificate were: Bradley Carpenter, Adeana Cottrill, Brandon McCoy, Kristina Townsend and Stephanie Wood.

Silver Career Readiness Certificates are awarded to those who score fours and above on the ACT WorkKeys. Students receiving a silver certificate were: Justin Bailey, Crystal Bell, Bradley Benson, Autumn Bloom, Ethan Collins, Zechariah Cosner, Cody Cunningham, Kayla Eller, Krista Goodrich, Michaela Grogg, Sean Gungle, Jesse Hardman, Amber Huffman, Jennifer Papouschek, Joshua Parsons, Barbara Richards, Rafael Shaffer, Ceterika Waddell and Hannah Wilson.

A gold certificated is awarded to those who score fives and above on the tests and certifies these people possess core employability skills for approximately 90% of the profiled jobs. Emily Wright was the only student to receive a Gold Career Readiness Certificate.

Mr. Bennett, assisted by Mr. White, presented the Ronald Blankenship Student Academic Award to those students who met the state goal on CTE end-of-course tests and ACT WorkKeys academics in the areas of reading for information, locating information and applied mathematics. This year's winners were Charlie Collins, Amanda Freeman, Cora Freeman, Weston Hershey, Sabrina King, Samantha Loudin, Kristi Messenger, Brooke Turner and Brandi Wood. These students received a certificate and their name will be placed on a plaque to hang in the school's commons area. Then Mr. Bennett presented the Director's Program Area Instructor Award to Mrs. Barbara Jones, the Business Education instructor.

Mr. Zane Gherke, Networking Technology instructor with the assistance of Mr. Roger Sweppenhiser, Building Construction instructor and Chef Annette Benson, ProStart Culinary Arts instructor, recognized those students participating in the West Virginia SkillsUSA competition in March. Certificates were given to Brittany Delaney, 3rd place prepared speech, Weston Hershey, 3rd place carpentry and Brandon Nelson, 1st place technical computer applications. In June, Brandon will be completing at the National SkillsUSA completion in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Bennett and Administrative Council member Larry Butcher presented a certificate and medallion to Weston Hershey, Joshua Parsons, Barbara Richards, Tiffany Richards and Hannah Wilson who were recognized with the Outstanding Student Award. These students missed no more than 5 days, maintained at least a 93% grade average, displayed acceptable attitudes in all phases of lab participation. They participated in all assigned classroom work and actively participated in club activities. Only one student is recognized per program area.

Seniors and Post Graduate students included:

Automotive Technology - Justin Bailey, Mitchell Bedree, Jason Hardman, Dustin Howes, Nicholas Kerby, Derek Minney.

Building Construction - Weston Hershey, Frederick Marks, James Miller, Travis Moss.

Business Education - Chris Lane.

Criminal Justice Technology - Shebeck Barbe, Kristi Bennington, Bradley Benson, Carrie Graffius, Gregory Myers, Jennifer Papouschek, Kayla Peggs, Sierra Powell, Barbara Richards, Noah Sweeney, Ceterika Waddell.

Environmental Technology - Ashley Starcher, Emily Wright.

Health Occupations- Crystal Bell (PG), Adeana Cottrill, Kayla Eller, Michaela Grogg, Amber Huffman (PG), Samantha Loudin, Rebecca Stump, Kristina Townsend, Hannah Wilson.

Networking Technology - Bradley Carpenter, Sean Gungle, William Heath, Daniel Husk, Stanley McLaughlin, Christina Neal, Brandon Nelson, Rafael Shaffer, Dustin Simmons.

ProStart Culinary Arts - Autumn Bloom, Keith Burgess (PG), Brittany Delaney, Zachary Farrell, Krista Goodrich, Jessie Keedy, Tiffany Richards, Stephanie Wood.

Welding Technology - Curtis Carr, Ethan Collins, Zechariah Cosner, Cody Cunningham, Tyler Hall, Jesse Hardman, Dustin Junkins, Brandon McCoy, Joshua Parsons, Roman Rader, Chad Richards, Jonathan Roberts, Nicholas Stevens, Zachary Yeager (PG).

Alternative Learning Center - Shebeck Barbe, Nicholas Beasley, Kristi Bennington, Dominique Gachassin, Ryan Greenlief, Zachary Farrell, Dustin Junkins, Nicholas Kerby, Frederick Marks, James Miller, Derek Minney, Anthony Swisher.

GED Graduates - Amber Boak, Andrew Butta, Nicholas Carroll, Jesse Couch, Amanda Drake, Carolyn Eller, Jacquelyn Hannah, Nikkii Herner, James Jones, Shannon Marks, Lorrie McCune, Daniel Minney, Lyle Richards, Joseph Smith, Britney Sticklen, Nicholas Thompson.