Vo-tech club's top fundraisers treated to meal, limousine ride
The grimace on a pumpkin might give a frightened family a little comfort some time this coming year.
That much is assured, as students from Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center's Skills USA are conducting a fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Pumpkins will be distributed to each of the 26 study areas at the school to be carved in the spirit of the Halloween season. Students and, later, the public, will have the chance to offer support of their favorite jack o'lantern with their spare change.
"It's amazing what the kids come up with," cosmetology instructor and Skills USA sponsor Amy Sassos said this week.
One pumpkin last year from a group of plumbers-in-training included a pipe as its nose.
"It was a constant running of water," Sassos said.
The event benefited Big Brothers and Big Sisters last year. The club raised $600 last year and is hoping for an even stronger response Oct. 26 and 27, when the pumpkins will be on display at Westmoreland Mall.
The community service fundraiser is but one element of the Skills USA club, which includes 420 students at the school offers the opportunity for them to compete in local, regional and national competitions within their training areas. Students at the school in New Stanton come from 10 school districts in the region, including Jeannette, Norwin, Penn-Trafford and Yough.
Eight of those students, four from the morning session and four from the afternoon, were honored this week for their fundraising work on behalf of the club. Among those honored were John Morgart, Yough; Lowell Brunk, Greensburg-Salem; Mike Plues, Penn-Trrafford; Brittany Suter, Yough, from the morning session and Samantha Tolbert, Belle Vernon; Katelyn Mardis, Mt. Pleasant Area; April Manley, Yough; and Victoria Barkefelt, Penn-Trafford, from the afternoon session.
The top two fundraisers from each school session, along with two fundraisers from each session who had their names drawn, were given a limousine ride from their home schools to breakfast or lunch and then to the career and technology center yesterday. Sassos said the prize was among many benefits Skills USA members receive through the school year.
Morgart, Lowell, Tolbert and Mardis were the top fundraisers this year.
The students have raised $33,000 for activities this year, an impressive amount, even though it is down a bit from past school years. The money covers travel expenses for competitions and allows for activity and field trips for the students.
Students are able to travel to Seven Springs Resort each school year and at the conclusion of the school year the club travels to Hersheypark.
The money for the trips and activities comes in largely through the sale of pizzas, cookie dough, cinammon rolls and candy, Sassos said. Students can opt to pay a $25 fee to join the club, or help through fundraising.
"We always have a great participation in Skills USA here," said Sassos, who has been adviser for the club for 11 years.
