Area 30 students bound for state skills competition in April

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Chelsea Modglin, Staff Writer

Area 30's regional champions at the recent Skills USA competition include (front, from left) Noah Pettit, Greencastle; Hayley Judd, North Putnam; Madelyn Mazur, North Putnam; Jessica Copeland, North Putnam; Cory O'Neal, Greencastle; Victoria Szalay, Cloverdale; Nathan Sheets, South Putnam; Hunter Ratliff, Eminence; (back) Shawn Lowe Nally, Greencastle; John Stanley, Cloverdale; Noah Barger, Greencastle; Logan Jones, South Putnam; Joe Masters, South Putnam; and Ben Schultz, North Putnam. (Photo courtesy of Area 30)

Eleven Area 30 students will be making their way to Indianapolis in April after placing in the top three at the regional Skills USA competition recently.

In information technology repair, North Putnam High School's Jessica Copeland placed first, Greencastle High School's Noah Barger took second and GHS's Cory O'Neal took third. Placing fourth and fifth, respectively, were GHS's Shawn Lowe Nally and Cloverdale High School's Tori (Victoria) Szalay.

In architectural drafting, GHS's Noah Pettit placed second. Eminence High School's Hunter Ratliff took first in auto refinishing and NPHS's Logan Jones took fourth in auto-service technology.

In auto-collision repair, NPHS's Ben Schultz took first place followed by Madelyn Mazur in second and Hayley Judd in third. South Putnam High School's Joe Masters took first in motorcycle technology, followed by CHS's John Stanley in second and SPHS's Nathan Sheets in third.

In addition to a chance at winning state, students placing in the top three of their category will also receive scholarship awards in the amount of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place. At the regional competition, students were required to demonstrate their skills in both written and practical tests.

Culinary Arts students and instructors with Mary K. Williams and Julie Thompson from 100 Women Who Care. First row, from left: Alissa Ritter, Audrey Barger, Assistant Instructor Kathy Cash, Instructor Mary Anne Birt, Regan Keller, Ashton Higgins and Chasta Muse. Second row, from left: Julie Thompson (100 Women Who Care), Jenni Souders, Bryana Calvert, Caleb Burns, Anthony Cupps, Samantha Atwood, Bailey Stierwalt and Mary K. Williams (100 Women Who Care).Third row, from left: Daniel Wilson, Seth Arnold, Dillon Pritchett, Jason Bell, Morgan Johnson, Sierra Graham, J.T. Matthews and Hannah Ashcraft. (Banner Graphic/CHELSEA MODGLIN)

In other developments:

-- Twenty CNA and EMT students and three instructors will also be going to Indianapolis in April to compete in the Health Occupations Students of America competition.

In other business:

-- The board unanimously approved a $6,600 donation from 100 Women Who Care to the Area 30 Culinary Arts program. Instructor Mary Anne Birt spoke on behalf of Area 30 at the February meeting of 100 Women, and was succesful in securing funds that she says will be used to buy induction heating equipment, maintain an herb garden and provide funds for competitions and scholarships.

-- The board unanimously approved the 2016-17 school calendar.

-- The board unanimously approved the addition of Networking II Servers, a Microsoft server certification program, to the program inventory.

-- The board unanimously approved the Teacher Performance Grant totaling more than $12,000, which will provide performance pay for "effective" and "highly effective" teachers.

-- Director Lora Busch presented the current adult education policy, which states, among other things, that while the school will not offer adult education to people convicted of violent crimes or crimes related to children, they will refer prospective students to programs unaffiliated with Area 30.

-- The board unanimously approved a grant from the Department of Workforce Development totaling a little more than $144,000 for the Adult Education program. At its current funding, the grant is $5,000 less than last year's funds.

-- Director Busch reported that several instructors gave presentations at South Putnam High School during lunchtime. Sophomores from North Putnam High School toured Jan. 15, and sophomores from Eminence and Greencastle are expected to visit Area 30 later this month.