The Carbon Career and Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee heard about accomplishments of students from the Future Health Professionals and the Skills USA Team this week.

Eleven students competed in the HOSA State Leadership Conference for future health professionals April 3 to 5 at the Radisson Hotel in King of Prussia. Students competed against technical schools throughout the state in their respective field with approximately 40 students in each group. Five of those 11 walked away with a medal.

Alexandria Harris and Stephanie Struble placed first in pediatric neurology, after two rounds of competition. They were both inspired to choose this topic becomes it hits close to home.

Harris said, “I was inspired by my cousin Erica, who has suffered from epilepsy most of her life. It made me want to learn more about the condition, so I could figure out how to help.”

Struble chose the topic for a similar reason.

“I chose pediatric neurology to bring awareness to issues kids face,” she said. “My aunt has a son who was born with severe complications, and she is such a strong, positive woman, and I think she needs to be more appreciated. She has so much against her and yet she still works through it and is positive and makes the best out of everything.”

Meagan Gildner placed first in Medical Terminology.

Her competition consisted of a 100-question multiple choice test, ranging from terminology to anatomy. Gildner topped all of her competitors and will be heading to Florida as well.

Haley Hawk and her partner finished in second place in Kinesiotherapy. Both groups were tasked with creating a poster display and then in the second round, giving a 4-minute speech explaining and defending their topic.

Those five-place finishers will head to the International Leadership Conference June 18-23 in Orlando, Florida. They will compete against students from all 50 states, its territories and possibly other foreign European countries.

Advisor Michele Dominic touted the Future Health Professionals field at CCTI with a 100 percent job and/or placement success rate. In addition, she expressed how proud she was of her students and is eager to get to nationals to watch them continue to shine.

Skills USA

In other CCTI news students competed in the Skills USA Competition that took place April 11 in Hershey. They were led by adviser Kevin Kuehner. Kuehner explained the competition as, “Skills USA is like the Olympics of technical schools for soft skill competitions and for career pathways.” Kuehner paid tribute to Chris Graver for acting as the “workhorse” for student development. “She deserves a lot of credit ... she is the one who stayed after school working with students for hours and helped improve their skills.” Fifteen students medaled during the competition as either a team or an individual. Six took home the gold, six silver and one bronze.

Brianna Santiago, a culinary arts student and second place recipient in the competition, discussed the groups ability to include the group SHINE (fifth- through eighth-graders) and to mentor them with the need to give back to the older generations by teaching them how to cook. Food that was made together by both groups was then donated to the Valor House (a nonprofit group that works to improve the lives, quality of health care, and shelter for veterans). In addition, the group is in the ongoing process of restoring markers in collaboration with other shops for local cemeteries. The group is an amazing example of excellence, but it also emphasizes the bigger picture, which is to use those skills to improve your community.

First place finishers will move on to nationals in Louisville, Kentucky on June 24 to 29.

Kuehner has had a national champion every year for the past several years.

Director Dave Reinbold commented on the accomplishments of the CCTI students, “I am extremely proud. They really stepped up this year with their willingness to participate, to do their best, and the way they represent themselves and their school. Last year, we had five students bring home gold at nationals and for a small school, the percentage of students that are achieving here is phenomenal.”