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Students show off vocational skills
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE INVERNESS -- The student population on the Withlacoochee Technical Institute campus swelled by more than 150 during the two days last week the school hosted the 2002-03 SkillsUSA VICA Region II Contest. VICA, or Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, is a student-run organization with advisers that was established in 1965 to enhance vocational programs in high schools and postsecondary schools across the nation. Region II is the northeast Florida area. Participating students were invited to compete in leadership and skills contests in their areas of interest. On Thursday, the competitions were extemporaneous speaking, promotional poster board and job interview/action skill job interview. Students interested in the poster board contest made themed posters, a skill that could be useful for advertising, explained VICA president Ashley Taylor, an auto body student visiting from Middleburg High School in Middleburg, just outside Jacksonville. Extemporaneous speaking students were given a topic and five minutes to prepare a speech which was then delivered to judges. Job interview contestants first approached a receptionist, then filled out a job application, followed by an interview by the judges. On Friday students had opportunities to showcase their skills. Carpentry students were given diagrams and expected to build according to those instructions. Cosmetology students were asked to give trend haircuts, trend blow-dries, wet set styles and evening comb-outs. Students in residential wiring had to wire a stud-framed cubicle for various switches: a light switch, an electrical outlet and a doorbell. The welding test was a demonstration of welding two pieces together into a T-shaped form. Auto mechanics and heavy equipment repair students were set up in stations where they had to diagnose problems in various parts of vehicles. Auto body students had to demonstrate skill in repairing dents, priming and spray painting. Commercial baking was the area WTI VICA adviser and cosmetology instructor Rena Wood suspected would have the happiest or best-fed judges. Students prepared breads, pastries, rolls and cakes. Computer repair and AC/heating and refrigeration were set up similarly to mechanics. The students were faced with stations where they diagnosed problems. Food and beverage students demonstrated skills as waiters. They did table setups, presented menus and specials and were also graded on adding checks and figuring tips. Television production students were sent out to film the contests and were graded on their editing of the film. This portion of the competition was provided by Crystal River High School, which sent equipment and judges. Citrus High School hosted drafting where students used computers to illustrate architectural and machine technology drafting competence. Wood and assistant VICA adviser guidance counselor Brenda Miley explained another area of competition, the job skill demonstration contests. These provided opportunities for students to present five-minute demonstrations of particular skills, such as making a salad, painting a fingernail, decorating a cake, folding a napkin or spray-painting a car. Students who place first or second at last week's competition will be eligible to travel to the state contest April 28-30 in Bradenton. First place winners at state can continue on to the national competition in Kansas City, Mo., the last week in June.
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