Wlaf1450Tuesday night was a night of celebration for Campbell and Jellico High Schools
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The stories shared each spring at the Campbell County Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee Dinner are so uplifting and encouraging. Tuesday night’s annual event was no exception.
Among my favorites is when first-year CCHS Construction Instructor Andy Baird’s Class competed in the nine-man team BXTN Competition with a five-man team. “We’re ready to leave for the competition, and I look around, and only five students showed up,” said Baird.
At the BXTN, Baird’s students competed with their team of five against more than 20 other schools that had nine-man teams. The task of the competition was to build a laundry room and half-bath, and in doing so, Baird’s five-man crew finished fourth in the BXTN Competition. Kenneth Blankenblicker, Trenton Conley, Hunter Smith, Kaleb Smith and Kaydon Whitfield are construction students.
“When did you finish school, Jackson,” asked CCHS Welding Instructor Chris Ralston. “Friday,” Jackson Stanfill shot back. Ralston shared with the crowd that Jackson finished his last class at CCHS on Friday, interviewed for a job on Monday, and he’s waiting on a call back.
Traci Chambers, the CTE supervisor, shared opening remarks of there’s so much to be proud of in Campbell County. “The students have worked so hard and thank you to our instructors. It’s just a great group of teachers focused on students’ careers, prepping them for the future in a high demand and high paying field,” said Chambers.
Eight agriculture students earned their State FFA Degrees, Shakira Goins, Alexis Hill, Isaac Jones, John Jones, R.J. Moore, Aimee Reid, Charity Ridenour, Eian Sharp and Jackson Wilson. “The state degree is the highest honor,” said Nathaniel Morton, who along with Rachael Teague, are instructors in agriculture.
Two members in cosmetology competed in the Skate Concrete Competition at MTSU at Murfreesboro. Both Myleigh Burrell and Jonathan Frank are concrete certified. In this non-traditional opportunity, Burrell claimed first place in the Skate 4 Concrete Competition at MTSU.
A number of impressive members of the Advisory Committee was recognized at Tuesday evening’s dinner. Presented with a plaque were Kevin Myers, Guiseppe Valentino, Teresa Nelson, Samantha Taylor, Carla Bolton, Maggie Inshco, Connie Griner, and Lynn McGhee.
In Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Emma Lawson took first place in the state competition at Chattanooga in Word Processing. Emma’s heading to Anaheim, California, for the Processing Nationals.
The instructors for FBLA are Courtney Owens and Megan Smith.
Also at Chattanooga in FBLA Intro to Social Media Strategies, Lydia Smith and Lillie Thomas each finished 5th in the state competition.
Robin Mullens is the instructor for The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), and two of her students shined at the state competition at Chattanooga claiming second place out of 21 other groups. Kendall Crabtree and Eden Elkins will next compete in the nationals at Orlando in July. Crabtree and Elkins also created a lesson plan and taught Kindergarteners at the La Follette Elementary School about hand washing.
Saidi Metzler and Jonica Stanley won silver in the state FCCLA Chapter Service Project Display. Donna Kennedy is their instructor.
Instructor Chris Ralston’s welding class saw Jackson Stanfill win first place in TIG Welding while Page Chambers finished second in MIG Welding. Fifty-five students under Ralston’s tutelage earned their Industrial Certification.
In Dream It Do It in Middle School Career Exploration held at Anderson County High School, Jellico Middle Schoolers represented the smallest group and won first place. The team of Lilliana Hackler, Veronika Hackler, Levi Hughes, Gabe Razote and Karlee Warman took the 1st place Judges Award and third place, the Peoples Choice Award. Jellico competed against teams from Oak Ridge, Union County, Anderson County, Clinton and Campbell County. Career Coach Lisa Bolton is the instructor.
“TCAT Jacksboro is a staple. We depend on them, and they do so much for our students and our school,” said Traci Chambers, the CTE supervisor.
“I am so proud for TCAT to partner with the schools, administration and faculty. They work tirelessly to help us,” said Dr. Debbie Petree, President of TCAT. Petree calls it a bumper crop of dual enrollment students from Campbell County and Jellico High Schools. The most dual credit students to ever be honored totals 58 graduating seniors, according to Petree.
Chambers closed with special recognition of Cosmetology Instructor Connie Crutchfield, Kathy Henderson- Career & Technical Assistant, CTE Principal Amanda Thompson and CTE Secretary Shannon Marsee. “Connie is a mentor to a lot of teachers while everybody needs Kathy and everybody loves Kathy. Amanda is always Johnny on-the-spot and Shannon is my sounding board, my hard working partner,” said Chambers.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/15/2025-6AM-PHOTO COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)