Raising funds to compete

WELLSBURG - Seven Brooke High School students have a chance at participating in a national competition, but they need some help from the community.

The seven, who are students in Diane Lucero's child development specialist class, may advance to the Future Educators Association's National Conference in San Antonio, Texas, after placing first or second in competitions held at the first FEA state conference in Ripley, W.Va. in September.

The event involved hundreds of West Virginia students interested in careers in teaching and childcare in competitions testing their knowledge of the field and its skills.

But the Brooke High School students must raise $900 each for travel expenses by Jan. 10, said Lucero. She said the students have raised funds in various ways, from selling pepperoni rolls to performing odd jobs, and they and other members of the school's FEA chapter will hold a spaghetti dinner from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Bethany College's Benedum Commons.

Tickets are $5 each, and can be purchased from any member or by contacting Lucero at (304) 527-1410 or dlucero@access.k12.wv.us.

In light of the impending deadline, Lucero has sent letters to many local civic groups seeking contributions.

She added the group is open to suggestions for other fundraisers and funding sources.

Lucero said she is very proud of the six, and five other students who represented the school at the state conference, and laments that a few doubt they will be able to attend the national event because of lack of funds.

The seven are: Shawn Stewart, Lauren Utt, Ruth Clampitt, Lauren Wise, Mark Mazzella, Cody Schwertfeger and Lindsay Cervenak.

Clampitt placed first and Schwertfeger, second, in the impromptu speaking competition of the state event after demonstrating their ability to speak for two to three minutes on an education-related issue not made known to them until shortly before the contest.

Clampitt also placed second in the event's essay competition, which challenged participants to write on a current issue affecting education.

Utt placed first in an event testing their ability to develop effective lesson plans. Utt led children in the high school's pre-school program in a craft inspired by Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," noting the activity's role in honing the children's fine motor skills.

And Stewart, Mazzella, Wise and Cervenak placed second for their entry among public service ads promoting the importance of education.

The group's ad initially consisted of a PowerPoint presentation, Lucero said, but the students are permitted to improve upon it and have used their own video equipment to create a one-minute commercial.

The ad includes footage of Brooke High School teachers and students, including the pre-schoolers, involved in hands-on activities; quotes from faculty members and music.

Brooke High School's entire student body had a chance to view the commercial when it was aired during the school's morning television newscast. Others with access to the Internet will find it on YouTube by entering "PSA Project 1 0001" in the search feature.

"I had no input on this at all. What's neat is they took the challenge," Lucero said.

Also representing Brooke High School at the state conference were: James Richardson, Shelby Mazzone, Ashley L. Smith and Taylor Hood.

Lucero expressed appreciation to Bethany College for providing its dining hall for the spaghetti dinner.

Efforts to raise funds for the competition come at a time when Lucero's students and others also sell various items to generate money for an annual community service project.

Each Christmas students in the school's early childhood education, marketing education and ProStart food management classes raise funds to purchase gifts for children and teens in local families in need.

Through the effort, hundreds of gifts have been distributed by the Brooke County Salvation Army and Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program.

The experience also is an educational one for the early childhood education students, who are required to follow certain guidelines when purchasing toys, such as seeking those that promote creativity and other skills and are "kid-powered," meaning they don't require batteries or accessories the children's parents may not be able to afford.

Lucero said the students will be shopping again on Dec. 10.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)