Eight Lake Region Vocational Center students returned home with medals following the annual State SkillsUSA Conference held March 15-16 in Bangor.

Azarie Smith, a Sacopee Valley High School and Culinary Arts student at Lake Region Vocational Center, won a bronze medal in Job Demonstration B, where she demonstrated maple syrup production.  She brought a tree with her and drilled the hole to hang the pail along with her description of the whole process.

Brandon Cash from Lake Region High School and Breanne Enos of Sacopee Valley High School both are Culinary Arts students at Lake Region Vocational Center. They brought home bronze medals for Sustainability Solutions, which is creating a design with the idea that it will sustain in our world forever.  They took on forest production.

Jake Fleck from Lake Region High School and a Culinary Arts student at Lake Region Vocational Center won a bronze medal in Culinary Arts. He created an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Jake remarked that the contest was very demanding and one really had to think ahead of what to cook while working on other items.

Graham Smith, a Lake Region High School and Drafting student from Lake Region Vocational Center, brought home a bronze medal in Prepared Speech. Graham was given a theme and needed to relate his speech to the theme along with his vocational program and SkillsUSA.

Taylor Barker, a Lake Region High School and Diversified Occupations student at Lake Region Vocational Center, competed in Action Skills, which is a demonstration. Taylor won a silver medal. For his contest, he created garnishes for an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Taylor took a plain meal and made it look festive and appetizing. He said, “I was very nervous. It’s not like performing in front of your friends.”

Joey Austin, a Lake Region High School and Culinary Arts student at Lake Region Vocational Center, received a silver medal for Extemporaneous Speaking. He was given an envelope with his topic listed inside. He had five minutes to come up with a three-minute speech. Joey said he brought into the speech SkillsUSA and his vocational program so he felt good about the job he did.

Weston Thayer from Fryeburg Academy and the Law Enforcement program at Lake Region Vocational Center won a gold medal in Criminal Justice. In his scenario, Weston had to deal with a mental health crisis. Weston commented, “Going to Skills and competing was a great opportunity for meeting other people from other schools and getting to use my skills that I have learned in my Law Enforcement program.”

Help send Weston to Nationals

Weston has the opportunity to go to Kansas City in June to compete at the national level.  LRVC is trying to raise money for him to go. Benefits planned include the annual Talent Show on Thursday, April 12 and the Giant Yard sale on May 19. Fundraising efforts will take place now to June.

Donations or suggestions are always welcome. Just call Lake Region Vocational Center at 693-3864 and ask for Jeanette or Rosie.

“This is so exciting for our students and a wonderful learning experience. I have been involved with SkillsUSA for over 20 years and still get goose bumps when they call ‘Lake Region Vocational Center’ at closing ceremonies,” says Jeanette Vanidestine, SkillsUSA advisor.