Students will travel to Kansas City for competition

SIKESTON -- Sikeston Career and Technology Center students have trained and studied all school year for the upcoming Skills USA national competition. They've discussed their plans and made last-minute preparations. Now, they're just ready to win.

On Thursday, the SCTC students met in their school's graphic arts classroom to discuss the itinerary for their upcoming visit to Kansas City, where they will compete in the 49th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference.

"SCTC has always focused on getting students prepared for jobs, and that's why we do so well in competitions," said Brian Henson, head adviser for SCTC's Skills USA.

Set for June 24-28 at H. Roe Bartle Conference Center in Kansas City, the convention is expected to draw approximately 15,000 students, teachers, business partners, families and friends from all over the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Among the 239 Missouri students competing at the national competition are the following SCTC students: Jimmy Hines and Quarmaine Owens of Sikeston and Syerra West of Oran for crime scene investigation (team of three); Julie Colbert of Sikeston for Customer Service; Martha Neel of Sikeston for graphic communications; and Sydney King, Alana Ellis and Olivia Whited of Sikeston for promotional bulletin board (team of three).

In addition, Dustin Chaney, a 2012 Sikeston High School graduate, who attends Three Rivers College will represent Sikeston and TRC by competing in the category of job interview.

The local students will join over 5,900 state champions competing in 98 hands-on skill and leadership contests in a showcase of technology that covers an area equivalent to the size of 16-plus football fields.

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