Career center students advance to state

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Chad Dortar of Austintown created a corsage as part of the 2011 FFA District Floriculture Competition at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center. The school hosted the competition March 8..

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Chemara Davis of Youngstown created a corsage as part of the 2011 FFA District Floriculture Competition at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center March 8. Davis qualified to compete at the state level in April. .

Seven MCTCC students, including Rosalind Davis (Boardman) and Paige Martin (Canfield), advanced to the state competition in April at ATI in Wooster as part of the Future Farmers of American Floriculture Competition March 8.

Other qualifiers were Chemara Davis (Youngstown), Brittany Kristanc (Struthers), Jose Pagan (Campbell) and Desirae Sanor and Danielle Tuel both of West Branch.

Elizabeth Opincarne, a senior from Lowellville enrolled in the Horticulture program at MCCTC, said the work she’s done in class has really helped prepare her for the FFA competition.

“I think that what we’re learning in class is making a big difference in what we’re able to do here today,” she said. Waiting with Opincarne was her fellow classmate and competitor, Ryan Swank, a senior from Sebring. Swank had completed the written exam and the Tool Identification competition and was ready for the Bud Vase Design competition. Swank said the skills he’s learning in the Horticulture program at MCCTC not only helps him to compete today, but the course is preparing him for a future career. The senior plans to enroll in a landscaping design program after graduation.

This is the first year MCCTC has hosted the event. Students throughout the district competed in several events throughout the day, including a written exam, plant and flower identifications, corsage design, bud vase design and more.