Orchard JH Students Bring Home Gold At First Contest

Testing the waters on a new student organization, the Orchard school takes pride in their new Junior High SkillsUSA Chapter.

Knowing that students would have the opportunity to compete in the program at the high school level, shop teacher Bob Evans took the initiative to help students realize and build their potential by establishing a junior high chapter of SkillsUSA.

In SkillsUSA, students are able to learn more about their passions, reach their potential, and receive valuable skills for their future. This organization gives students the ability to be leaders while working with others at a competitive level.

“I think like a pyramid starts with a big, wide, strong foundation. And that’s why I like to build a foundation. And when you’re in seventh grade, you are curious about a lot of things. You can gain mass quantities of information, sometimes you have more time, sometimes you don’t,” Evans said. “So, it's a place to start building from. Ultimately, we’d like to be state champions in high school and junior high. So, you have to start somewhere.”

With over 80 competitions, the Orchard team brought home the gold in opening and closing ceremonies. In this category, a group of students were required to assemble the SkillsUSA emblem while reciting the meanings behind each color and symbol from memory. This competition gives students the ability to showcase their speaking and memorization skills while gaining the idea of parliamentary procedure. 

Placing individually, Hadley Cheatum brought another gold medal home in the math competition. Each accomplishment was cherished by the school, as staff welcomed the winners with treats and posters.

“When we came back, they had all of the signs made for us because Orchard is the best place to teach on the planet earth. I came in and couldn’t believe the signs they had made for our kids. It was so wonderful,” Evans explained.

​Evans and the rest of the school is excited to see the success the chapter will find this next semester.