| ||||||||||
 
Dr. Ronald P. Rogers CHIROPRACTOR Support for your body's natural healing capabilities 270-384-5554 Click here for details 
  
Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
Visit ColumbiaMagazine's Directory of Churches Addresses, times, phone numbers and more for churches in Adair County Find Great Stuff in ColumbiaMagazine's Classified Ads Antiques, Help Wanted, Autos, Real Estate, Legal Notices, More... 
|
Russell Co. Student, Zachary Stephens, wins at national competition Places first, nationally Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Turning Photo follows this story By Tim Thornberry The two have very similar personalities and have known they make agood student teacher fit in the classroom for the last three years, sinceStephens began classes at the ATC. However, the student has returned toschool this year with a title he probably wouldn't have thought possible,and the teacher never doubted- that of a national champion. The two attended the annual SkillsUSA Championships held last June inKansas City, Missouri, where Stephens competed against competition from allover the country and placed first in his respective field, Computer NumericControl (CNC) Turning. This machine tool technique cuts metal through acomputerized devise that turns a horizontal piece of metal whilesimultaneously placing a precision cutting tool against the material, muchthe same way a wooden table or chair leg is fashioned. Zachary Stephens was just happy to go to nationals "I didn't plan on winning, I just wanted to go to nationals," saidStephens. "Once I got started in the event I knew I was doing my best andthat's all I could do." Nokes was a little more confident about his student's success chancesas he watched him work diligently through the competition. "I knew he had a chance after he finished before everyone else," hesaid. "I knew on that day, he was better than everybody else there," saidNokes. "I don't know who was more excited, me or Zachary. I've been teachingfor 6 years and involved with the SkillsUSA program almost as long and Ican't begin to tell you what it means to all the students and advisors whoget to go to Kansas City." The competition was the first national event of its kind for bothstudent and instructor. Stephens earned the right to attend by placing firstat the state level event held earlier in the year. "This was only my third time of competing against other students,"said Stephens. "I guess I'm pretty lucky and I don't like to brag but itfeels good to say I'm the best in the U.S." "Zach is laying the groundwork for his success at an early age," saidSkillsUSA State Director Steve Phillippi. "We have so many like him acrossthe state and the country in our organization who are hard working andtalented. Zach has proven that he is the best of the best," Phillippicontinued. Jeff Adams, Zach's principal, says success sets goals for fellow students Jeff Adams is the principal at the technology center and sees Zach's successas a goal for other students to try and obtain. "Zach, and students like him, put our school in a positive light Hehas created a good image for our school, our students and our community. Hissuccess also sends a message to our business and industry community tellingthem we are doing things right," said Adams. Businesses and industry, as well as technical colleges from aroundthe state and country, get on board the SkillsUSA wagon every year to thetune of millions of dollars for scholarships and prizes in hopes of gettinga top student into the postsecondary and workforce sectors. Kentucky's stateevent alone awarded over $500,000 in total scholarships and prizes. Thisyear's state delegation brought home two championships and 16 gold, silverand bronze medals from national competition- a total of 41 top 10 finishesaltogether. "SkillsUSA is a combination of educators and industry leaders comingtogether to help students who are enrolled in applied technology coursesgrasp a better understanding of how education leads not only to theworkforce but to being a more productive citizen, as well," said Phillippi. SkillsUSA serves nearly 280,000 students, professional members The SkillsUSA organization serves nearly 280,000 high school andcollege students and professional members nationally, enrolled in technical,skilled, and service occupational training programs, including healthoccupations. It helps prepare students for the workforce as it provides themeducational experiences in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and characterdevelopment. The program emphasizes total quality at work, high ethical standards,superior work skills, life-long education and pride in the dignity of work.SkillsUSA also promotes understanding of the free enterprise system andinvolvement in community service activities. Zach Stephens and Rodney Nokes share a mutual admiration for eachother. Stephens says Mr. Nokes makes learning easy. In turn, Nokes says Zachis easy to teach. Their modesty aside, both had a memorable summer theywon't soon forget capturing a milestone one could not have done without theother. Tim Thornberry may be contacted at the Kentucky Education Cabinet; email:TimS.Thornberry@ky.gov; or phone: (502) 564-4286 This story was posted on 2005-09-09 08:21:55
Printable: this page is now automatically formatted for printing.
Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know.
More articles from topic Kentucky:
KSP Post 15 officers investigating death of 49-year-old Casey County man Billy Joe Fudge, The Homeplace on Green River, on KET-1 Sunday afternoon ART LINK: Story on Adair native, artist Wyman Rice KSP POST 15: Car leaves roadway, hits fence near Hustonville 14-year-old Casey County bicyclist dies of injuries Coping with the fuel price crisis: 4-day school week? Summer Shade man killed in one-car accident Big Red Radio Network adds WAIN-AM, Columbia, KY, to network KSP Report: One injured in two car accident near Lebanon Sulphur Well Homecoming is Saturday and Sunday, August 20, 21, 2005 View even more articles in topic Kentucky |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
|
||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
|
Quick Links to Popular Features
Looking for a story or picture? Try our Photo Archive or our Stories Archive for all the information that's appeared on ColumbiaMagazine.com. | ||||||||||
|
Contact us: Columbia Magazine and columbiamagazine.com are published by Linda Waggener and Pen Waggener, PO Box 906, Columbia, KY 42728. Please use our contact page, or send questions about technical issues with this site to webmaster@columbiamagazine.com. All logos and trademarks used on this site are property of their respective owners. All comments remain the property and responsibility of their posters, all articles and photos remain the property of their creators, and all the rest is copyright 1995-Present by Columbia Magazine. Privacy policy: use of this site requires no sharing of information. Voluntarily shared information may be published and made available to the public on this site and/or stored electronically. Anonymous submissions will be subject to additional verification. Cookies are not required to use our site. However, if you have cookies enabled in your web browser, some of our advertisers may use cookies for interest-based advertising across multiple domains. For more information about third-party advertising, visit the NAI web privacy site.
| ||||||||||
