New Staff at CACC

Columbia Area Career Center welcomed 11 new staff members this fall. Joining us for the first time are Devon Grill, teaching  Welding Technology and Agriculture Mechanics and Animal and  Veterinary Science at CACC as well as Exploring Agricultural  Science at Jefferson Junior High School; Deb Canine, teaching Intro to Professions in Healthcare at CACC  and Hickman; Kristi Deneke, teaching Digital Media and Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing at Hickman; Bobby Horn, teaching EMT and Core Essentials in Fire Fighting and Public Safety; Joe Wittman, teaching Broadcast Journalism and Dee Ann Gaskins, secretary to the Assistant Directors. New to CACC, but not new to CPS are Craig Adams, teaching Intro to Engineering Design;  Susan Griggs, Vocational Resource Educator; Julie Purcell, teaching Electronic Essentials at CACC in addition to Intro to Engineering Design at West Junior High School; Jeaniene Thompson, in her new role as Teacher Support; and Jo Ann Carpenter, Instructional Aide.

Columbia Students Lead National Culinary Contests

Will Kinney, 2012 Rock Bridge High School graduate, placed first in the SkillsUSA national culinary competition for high school students. He is the second Missouri student ever to win the Culinary Arts competition. State contests began in March and the national contest was held in June at Bartle Hall in Kansas City.  Students from most of the 50 states, as well as Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, participated.  Regarding Kinney’s first place award in Culinary Arts, “We were extremely excited but not surprised by Will’s outcome,” said Brook Harlan, one of the Culinary Arts instructors at Columbia Area Career Center.

Kinney’s efforts were rewarded with full four-year scholarships to many of the country’s top culinary schools. Will is attending Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. He is enrolled in the School of Hotel Administration and will participate in their collaborative degree program with the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.

Rock Bridge Senior Mallory Barnes placed fourth in the Skills USA Commercial Baking category. Mallory has returned to Columbia Area Career Center and is enrolled in Baking and Pastry and Culinary Arts II.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our two culinary and baking students. Will worked extremely hard; we have watched him grow into a competitor over the last two years. Mallory came to us as a fierce competitor. She is the first student we have ever had win the state contest and compete at nationals who has not even taken our Baking and Pastry course” said Chef Carri Risner.

The two competitors practiced for the entire year with Chefs Brook Harlan, Carri Risner, and Jeff Rayl of  Columbia Area Career Center.  The three chefs were in agreement that the success of their students was also based on the support of Columbia Area Career Center’s administration and the Columbia community.  “Since starting the program fifteen years ago we have grown tremendously. It is great to have another National Champion,” Chef Jeff Rayl added. “I am very proud of their accomplishments and I really look forward to their future”

This Culinary Arts National Champion is the second in the past three years from Columbia Area Career Center. The Columbia Area Career Center’s First National Champion was in 2010, when Rachel Koppelman won the title. This also marks the 10th straight year that  Columbia Area Career Center has had a state champion from Missouri competing in the national contest.

View the Tribune article prior to the competition here.

Geospatial Courses benefit from 21st Century tools

With the recent acquisition of new GIS software, students of Laura Estabrooks’ Geospatial Technology and Geospatial Analysis classes have received professional grade software that enables them to investigate world issues involving the environment, habitat, planning, government, conservation, health, and many other matters. According to Mrs. Estabrooks,  “The program enables collection of data on a wide range of issues.  Locally, the Geospatial Analysis Class will be working with the Hinkson Creek Stream Team mapping healthy vegetation, water contamination, litter and whatever other monitoring parameters are set.” This GIS software is the worldwide industry standard, giving students who master its use an advantage in future jobs and internships. See the full article in the October 4, 2012 issue of the Columbia Missourian

Trapshooting on Tuesdays

Each Tuesday after school, you will find 20 to 30 Columbia FFA members at the Prairie Grove Shooting Club honing their shooting skills. They come for fun, camaraderie, and for practice in anticipation of their upcoming competitive meets. This year the Trapshooting team will compete at regional trapshoots as well as at the FFA Area lV, the Missouri Northeast District, and the Missouri State Youth Trapshoots. Each team is composed of five members; the teams are selected based on their scores and their availability to attend meets. For about 20 years, CACC agriculture teacher Chuck Miller has been coaching the trapshooting teams.  He commented that the FFA has recently received two grants from the Friends of the NRA foundation.  The funds were used to purchase guns and a gun safe which are housed at the shooting range. Additionally, with funds available to offset the costs for FFA members, Miller says, “Anyone is welcome to shoot with us.” He added, “My philosophy on our shooting program is to get as many students shooting as possible in a safe, respectful, and enjoyable manner. I want them to come back each week.”  

Columbia FFA Places First at District Grassland Contest

Thursday, October 4, 2012, Columbia FFA took two teams coached by Larry Henneke to the District Grasslands competition in Macon, Missouri. The team consisting of Sarah Darr (HHS), Lainyn Kerley (RBHS), Kira Kirk (RBHS) and Isabelle Mitchell (RBHS) finished first out of 12 teams. The team of Alan Perry (HHS), Grant Gould (RBHS), Kassie Rankin (HHS) and Andrew Yount (RBHS) finished second, with Alan Perry finishing first overall individually.  The winning teams participated in events involving soil evaluation and adaptation, forage management for livestock, wildlife evaluation, and plant identification. The teams will now advance to the State contest held in Ashland, Missouri, on November 18.

First Place team-Sarah Darr, Kira Kirk, Lainyn Kerley and Isabelle Mitchell

Second Place team-Alan Perry, Grant Gould, Kassie Rankin and Andrew Yount

Alan Perry

Lainyn Kerley

Isabelle Mitchell

Sarah Darr

Construction Technology earns OSHA certification

Columbia Area Career Center has always emphasized safety training in our programs, and beginning in fall 2012 we began to further that emphasis. Construction Technology I & II classes were required to complete the OSHA 10 hour Construction Industry Training course and by doing so received their OSHA wallet cards. All students successfully completed the course.

An agency of the US Department of Labor, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) mandates that all employers provide a safe and healthful workplace for employees. The agency also measures the safety competency of workers.  Consequently, in the last two years many employers have begun to require new hires to obtain OSHA certification before serious consideration for employment.  CACC students who obtained certification have both increased  their competency skills and their employability.

The training develops StartSafe StaySafe® practices that teach students how to make critical choices when faced with potential safety problems in the workplace. It is a visual and interactive learning program that covers safe practices with tools, equipment, chemicals, and construction site hazards. The high value of a safe work environment is recognized by reputable employers who perceive that it pays economically, as in lower insurance rates and increased productivity, and that a safe a workforce works with more efficiency and with more initiative.

Instructor Bill Mitchell says, “the emphasis of the training is how to bridge the gap between knowledge of safe practices and practical application in the field.”

Instructor Bill Mitchell, Guidance Counselor Ellen Buechler, Ryan Chrisman, Jacob Toler, Austin Shiverdecker, Cristian Ocampo, Colby Robb, Cody Bower and Chris Kalogeris. Not pictured  Megan Anderson