Last Friday Pitman High School students flocked to prom in their gowns and tuxedos with many young girls sporting one traditional accessory: a corsage. Made of fresh flowers and ribbon, these wristlet bouquets were not only a feminine accessory but benefited their peers as corsages were created and sold by students of the Pitman Art and History of Floral Design course.

The corsage project is just one way that students at Pitman High School are meeting school requirements and learning skills that they can apply in the real world. The project, which generated over $400 dollars, also helped students prepare for the 29th annual Occupational Olympics on Wednesday, an event that is designed to promote academic and occupational understanding in various career areas.

The annual competition, which is sponsored by local industries, school districts and businesses, provided students the opportunity to network with over 60 vendors and compete in 22 events including floral design, agricultural engineering, automotive technology, fashion design, marketing mathematics, welding and more. High school students compete with other students in the county and are then rated on their field of interest and ability to excel at employable skills.

“This event is a great way for students to have a chance to try their hand at things like floral design, which they have been practicing in class, in a non-threatening environment,” said Krista Vannest, instructor of the Pitman Art and History of Floral Design course and chair of the Agriculture Department. “At the end of the day it’s a great experience for students.”

 More than an opportunity for students to exhibit the knowledge they already have, the Occupational Olympics also serves as a reminder for students to work hard at what they want to achieve, a necessary trait to have in the work force.

“These are not things you can learn in a week. You have to work on it before school, during school and after class to be prepared,” said Brandon Romo, a Denair High School senior.

While student performance ranged from advanced to beginner, the event serves students of every level, as it not only introduces them to potential career paths but allows them to receive constructive advice on how to hone their craft if they are interested in pursuing some of these technical trainings for a career.

“The biggest thing is that this is a big opportunity to see connections to the real world and see the business industry,” said Troy Gravatt, agricultural mechanics instructor at Oakdale High School.

Event

1st place

and their home school

2nd place

and their home school

3rd place

and their home school

Accounting I

Vanessa Yepez

Pitman HS

Jason Raley

Pitman HS

Michelle Doo

Pitman HS

Ag Engineering / Construction Trades

Victor Jimenez

Riverbank HS

Sergio Guzman

Riverbank HS

Justin Rocha

Orestimba HS

Agricultural Equipment Technology

Colton Young

Hughson HS

Anthony Lopes

Turlock HS

Spencer Blocher

Gregori HS

Automotive Technology

Brent Downs

Oakdale HS

Anthony Solis

Oakdale HS

Samuel Lubbers

Oakdale HS

Criminal Justice

Matthew Stime

Modesto Christian

Travis Trethewey

Ceres HS

Brian Lara

Gregori HS

Fashion Design

Chelanne Millette

Turlock HS

Cesar Orozco

Downey HS

Susana Maldonado

Turlock HS

Firefighter Candidate Training

David Beall

Davis HS

Austin Morton

Davis HS

Alfredo Hernandez

Davis HS

Floriculture

Haley Isaacson

Modesto HS

Megan Beaman

Pittman HS

Zachary Rose

Hughson HS

General Marketing

Valerie Tran

Modesto HS

Molica Bien

Modesto HS

Sophia Nazaryan

Patterson HS

Hairstyling 

Angela Aguilar

Modesto HS

Alexis Alava

Enochs HS

Brooke Garro

Patterson HS

Introduction to Business Applications

Katie Homer

Oakdale HS

Nicole Perry

Hughson HS

Arashdeep Kaur

Hughson HS

 

 

 

 

Event

1st place

and their home school

2nd place

and their home school 

3rd place

and their home school

Job Seeking Skills

Tim Truax

Pitman HS

Amanda Cockrell

Hughson HS

Jenna Silva

Hughson HS

Marketing Mathematics

Melissa Mota

Gregori HS

Kathleen Dunn

Davis HS

Manuel Barceio

Modesto HS

Medical Occupations

Aaron Aquino

Oakdale HS

Jessica Stevenson

Oakdale HS

Miguel Alvarez

Turlock HS

Portfolio Review

Mark Borges

Hughson HS

Reta Purdom

Turlock HS

Stephanie Baker

Ecademy Charter

Pitsco Drag Racing

Light Weight Class

Gerardo Tapia

Turlock HS

Derek Riley

Turlock HS

David Del Rio

Turlock HS

Pitsco Drag Racing

Heavy Weight Class

Jack Nicolai

Turlock HS

Raul Cruz

Turlock HS

Austin Cummings

Turlock HS

Pitsco Drag Racing

Design

Derek Riley

Turlock HS

Brandon Myers

Davis HS

Jack Nicolai

Turlock HS

Retail Selling

Valerie Tran

Modesto HS

Markeice Bolden

Johansen HS

Ashton Lewis

Johansen HS

Robotics Technology

Erika Wright

Sara Bowker

Rebekah Ferrante

Valley Charter HS

Kristian Wehrman

Jose Nunez

Ceres HS

Eric Munoz

Austin Thiry

Central Valley

Salad Preparation & Display

Alyssa Telly

Stanislaus Culinary Arts Institute

Selena Mendez

Stanislaus Culinary Arts Institute

Hunter Martinez

Turlock HS

Small Engine Technology

Estaban Villafan

Central Valley HS

Jacob Pardiso

Beyer HS

Cristina Quezada

Central Valley HS

Video Game Design

Max Smith

Valley Charter HS

Andres Segundo

Orestimba HS

Brenden Ward

Valley Charter HS

Welding

Trey Smith

Turlock HS

Carlos Ayala

Johansen HS

Grant Boerkson

Turlock

 

Large School Overall Award

TURLOCK High School

 

Small School Overall Award

HUGHSON High School