NEWS--

For immediate release

July 29, 2008

15 Kennedy High School students earn national recognition

Students compete at National SkillsUSA Championships

Bloomington Kennedy High School students competing at the National SkillsUSA Championship this summer earned national recognition honors in individual and team competitions.

The Kennedy Quiz Bowl Team of Tyler Larson, Cat Choy, Richard George, Pad Morgan and Chris Aubitz earned a fourth place finish, its highest placement in the national competition. Other students earning honors included Hanna Daniel, seventh in the Preschool Teaching Assistant category, and Micheal Engelhorn, 10th in Computer Maintenance Technology.

Kennedy students who competed but did not place included Mark Boettcher in Culinary Arts; Phanny Phay, Kelsey Cook and Amanda Ly in Community Service; Lexie Dubose-Briski and Mahlet Makonnen in Outstanding Chapter; Allison Scherer in Prepared Speech; and Oscar Menjivar in Customer Service.

SkillsUSA is a leadership organization for students in career and technical programs in high school and college. Students participate in leadership and skills competition at local, state and national levels where they build and reinforce technical and communication skills, self-confidence and work attitudes.

The contests are held in nine career and technical education cluster areas, including arts and communication, construction, health services, legal and protective services, hospitality, human services in manufacturing, science, engineering and technology, and transportation.

The Kennedy High School SkillsUSA Team is advised by Scott Etzel, Natasha Chapek, Mike Holman and Kevin Chederquist.