"I Can Club" Award winners named at Breakfast

Columbia Area Career Center held its "I Can Club" Award Ceremony at  Reynolds Alumni Center on the MU campus, November 15, 2012.  The “I Can Club” award recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding cooperation, self-motivation, preparedness, positive attitude, dependability and persistence which truly exemplifies the Career Center Expectations. The award is sponsored by our Partner-In-Education, MU Administrative Services. Congratulations to the “I Can Club” Winners.



Jurabek Ahmadjonov              Thin Aung         

Dre'von Ballenger                   Joshua Bond

Kameron Bong                       Moniqua Brookins

Nicole Ettleman                      Allison Farris

Matthew Frappier                   Stanley Fredette

Anthony Geen                        Jennifer Jedlow

Kevin Long                             Hayden Mahieu

Tamarika Marquette               Erin McCann

Emily Miller                            Eva Moentmann 

Andrew Mott                          Christian Navarro

Molly Parker                           Alan Perry

Latina Pruitt                           Kassandra Rankin

Larkin Shull                            Richard Terry 

Nicholas Voney                       Kelly Wilsdorf 

Isabelle Bouchard                   Lonnie Breeding

Matthew Bush                         Haylee Cook

Jordan Craig                           Laurel Critchfield

Andrew Cunningham               Ramon Cuya

Austin DeHaven                      Kayla Doolady

Hannah Dougherty                  Vlad Florea

Elena Franck                           Joshua Frost

Madeline Grant                       Abigail Hake

Joshua Hamilton                     Erika Herting

Keeley Houghton                   Maria Kalaitzandonakes 

Rachel Kiehne                         Hailey King

Alexander Komes                    Bailey Lawson

James Layman                        James Leyden

Dayton Marcks                        Liam Martin

Justin McDaniel                       Aaron Myers

Isabelle Mitchell                      Martin Morales

Quinn Pestle                            Breta Phillips

Trent Powell                            Earl Salmons

Mary-Claire Sarafianos            Ashley Shahan

Claire Simon                           Brandi Smith

Jennifer Stanley                      Sophie Whyte

Michael Wilson                       

Kaleb Harmon                       

Emma Pliska

Asa Linneman

Michelle Algya

Demetre Alston    

     

         

Former CACC student Microsoft Software Engineer

Thomaz DeSouza recently realized how pivotal a role Jeaniene Thompson’s Digital Media classes played in shaping his future. Mastering Illustrator and PhotoShop in Career Center courses held at Hickman High School gave Thomaz the edge he needed to be hired as a research/teaching assistant at the University of Missouri Informatics Institute (MUII); there he was a TA, teaching database systems while studying computer science.  DeSouza continued to distinguish himself, conducting bioinformatics research and his work in implementing a photo recognition algorithm to phenotype leaves for MUII was published.

Pushed by his mother to apply for an internship at Microsoft, he made the cut and worked as an intern for three months one summer. “After my internship, they gave me a full time job. I became the first student from the University of Missouri to get hired as an undergraduate to one of the big tech companies!” Thomaz says, “It’s pretty amazing to think that my first  ‘computer science’ class was taught by Ms. Thompson. The only reason I was given a position as a research assistant was because I was very talented at Illustrator and PhotoShop, and they needed a student to do some photo editing work. Putting together some knowledge that Ms. Thompson had taught me with some other knowledge, I was able to apply such a simple photo algorithm to an advanced biological concept.”

Thomaz is currently a software engineer at Microsoft working on the Windows 8 Microsoft Account team.



Thomaz DeSouza



K-9 Unit visits Exploring Ag Science class at Jeff Jr

Devon Grill's Exploring Agricultural Science class  at Jefferson Junior High School is currently studying a unit on  companion animals. The class hosted Narcotics Investigator Scott Hedrick  from the Columbia Police Department and K-9 Unit Deputy Chris Smith of  Boone County Sheriff's Department. The officers talked about training  their dogs, the care their dogs require, how their career developed to include service dogs, and what a day in the life of a K-9 unit investigator involves. The officers gave a tracking demonstration in the classroom and the students had a lot of great questions for both officers.




Investigator  Hedrick and Deputy Smith with their dogs, Urac and Utz

 


Investigator  Hedrick and Deputy Smith with JJHS  Exploring Ag students



Poultry Team takes first at FFA National Convention

Congratulations to the team of Loyal Carpenter (HHS), Brooke Eaton (RBHS), Kaitlin Epperson (RBHS) and Maddie Grant (RBHS) for  taking first place in the Poultry Career Development Event at the 85^th FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, IN. The Poultry Evaluation CDE is a competitive event that tests the participant’s ability to select top quality poultry and poultry products needed for successful production and marketing. Event participants must complete a written exam on poultry management, evaluate classes of live birds for eggs and meat production, evaluate quality of eggs, and evaluate and identify parts and products. The event was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Advised by Kevin Duncan, this is the first time a Columbia FFA Poultry team has won at the National level.

Each team member received $1,000 for being on the first place team, along with cash prizes for individually placing in the top ten. Kaitlin Epperson placed second,Maddie Grant placed third, and Loyal Carpenter placed fourth. Loyal also received the Live Bird Evaluation award.

Corporate sponsors Newly Weds Foods, Tyson, and US Poultry and Egg Association hosted the awards banquet and provided the cash awards. In addition, Tyson presented each team member with a commemorative timepiece by Tyson.

Competing at the national level is a great accomplishment. Last spring, students vied for a position on the team by competing in contests throughout the state. The final team was determined based on their placings. They took first at district and state, qualifying them for a national showdown. Loyal, Kaitlin, and Maddie  practiced two days a week after school this fall; simulating contest events, studying old tests, preparing for the team activity and even enlisting the help of CACC Math specialist Theresa Yeager. Team member Brooke Eaton, an Iowa State University student, joined them for the trip to Indianapolis where they continued to study until the actual event. The countless hours and determination paid off.

The team will be recognized Monday, November 12 by the Columbia Board of Education.

Live bird evaluation practice

Turkey evaluation practice

Exterior egg practice

Further processed practice

Kevin Duncan, Loyal Carpenter, Brooke Eaton, Kaitlin Epperson, Maddie Grant and Corporate Sponsors

Columbia FFA Forestry Team takes first place at National Convention.

The Forestry team of Stephen Bennett (RBHS),  Benjamin Carpenter (HHS) Tory Chasteen (RBHS) and Quinn Pestle (RBHS) took first place in the Forestry Career Development Event at the 85th  FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, IN. The National FFA Forestry CDE is a competitive event that test students’ skill and knowledge in the area of forest management. Event components include a general forest knowledge exam, tree identification, timber cruising, tree/forest disorders identification, a chainsaw practicum, forestry issues interview and a team activity. The contest was held at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, IN.

Advisor Larry Henneke said this is the fourth time Columbia FFA has won the Forestry CDE at the national level, the last time being in 2010.

Each team member received $1.000.00 for being on the first place team, along with cash prizes for individually placing in the top ten. Benjamin Carpenter placed 2^nd, Stephen Bennett placed 3^rd, and Tory Chasteen placed 4^th.  Stephen Bennett was also recognized with an award for Overall Skill Practicum.

Corporate sponsors John Deere and Husqvarna hosted the awards banquet and provided the cash awards. Each team member was also presented with a commemorative engraved ax and Protective Apparel Powerkit by Husqvarna. In addition, Husqvarna has offered to conduct a  2 day tree felling school in Columbia to demonstrate safe tree cutting practices.

Qualifying for a national event is quite an accomplishment. The interested students began practicing 3 afternoons a week from late January through March when the final team was selected based on their placings in spring contests. The top four competed at the district level, advanced to state and finally to nationals. Studying on their own throughout the summer, team practices resumed this fall, with college students Ben and Tory making special trips home for that purpose.Their determination, focus and commitment to the team, set these hardworking young men apart from the competition.

  Ben Carpenter, Tory Chasteen, Stephen Bennett and Quinn Pestle

Culinary Serves Thanksgiving Meal

Menu Friday 11/2/12

10:50 – 1:00

Served in front of RBHS Planetarium

Culinary Arts Dining Room in RBHS Basement open for seating (room 101)

Thanksgiving

Sampler Meal Deal

***Turkey with roll and gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole and Pie***

$5.00

Vegetarian Sampler Meal Deal

*** Roasted Acorn Squash with roll and gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole and Pie ***

$5.00

a la carté

Apple Brined Roasted Turkey served with a

Homemade Roll and Gravy

$3.50

Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with a Mixed Rice and Vegetable Pecan Medley served with a Homemade Roll

$3.50

Rustic Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

$1.50

Green Bean Casserole

$1.50

Extra Roll

$.50

Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

$1.00

Full Meat Meal deal with Acorn Squash

$7.00

Non-Rock Bridge Customers

11:45-12:45 is the best time to come to avoid the rush at lunch shifts

Culinary partners with MFA and Today's Farmer magazine

For the past 6 years, Columbia Area Career Center’s culinary program has partnered with MFA Oil’s magazine, Today's Farmer in the styling of their monthly recipe section. The latest collaboration has the two teaming up with a video version for MFA’s online magazine.  As a partner in education with CACC, MFA demonstrates the beauty of this cooperative effort; students get real life experience in food-styling at the same time MFA gets the benefit of having their work done by aspiring young food artists. MFA selects recipes sent in by readers, forwards them to CACC where they are reviewed and selected based on which will photograph the best. Recipes are re-created, noting any changes or clarifications the recipe might need. Then MFA staff arrive to photograph or videotape CACC students preparing the item and setting up the final stylized shot for publication. This food styling activity is yet another viable career opportunity available to culinary students in the diverse food service industry.