"Kids these days."
The oft-uttered phrase is typically both preceded and followed by any number of disparaging adjectives and ad hominem snipes. But the fact is, no matter how loud and ubiquitous critics have become, when it comes to the dismal picture they try to paint about our young people, I gotta tell you, it just ain't so. Here's the latest illustration of why I believe so strongly in those who will be taking the reins from us in just a blink of an eye.
I recently returned from Louisville where the National Championships for SkillsUSA (formerly VICA for us old-timers) were held. SkillsUSA promotes and supports career and technical education (CTE) not only across our nation, but worldwide. With more than 300,000 members – both students and advisors — it's a relatively quiet but impactful organization, and one that is highly respected in both industry (Google Mike Rowe and SkillsUSA, if you will) and political arenas. At the King Career Center in Anchorage, where I am principal, we have more than 100 members.
Over the span of four days, 26 Alaska State Skills high school champions, including 18 from KCC, accompanied by their expert advisors, fiercely competed against the winners from the other 49 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Navajo Nation. Of the 106 different events — ranging from the trades, to emergency services, to hospitality, to public speaking — our students pitted their talents against the very best in our nation in 20 of those contests. Each event had both written and practical components, and our Alaska students excelled.
A few highlights (prospective employers take note):
— Two Alaska competitors brought home the gold medal for the first time in the 30-plus years that State SkillsUSA coordinator Ray Jensen has been involved.
— Jordyn Baker (apropos), from KCC, is the national champion in Commercial Baking. With her victory comes a scholarship valued at approximately $80,000.
— John Wolcott, also from KCC, climbed to the highest rung of the podium in the Firefighting competition. (Side note: John's teacher, Rebecca Giacolone, currently battles bravely and with determination uterine lining cancer. She was unable to accompany John to the Nationals, but make no mistake, she and John have inspired each other. Rebecca, like John, will rise to the podium.)
— KCC Culinary Arts State Champion Serena Nguyen won a Mike Rowe SkillsUSA travel scholarship which provided her the opportunity to compete in the nationals where she placed ninth in our nation.
Many more Alaska students placed high, in everything from aviation maintenance to technical math. Impressive results, but these student accomplishments are not anomalies. They are regular occurrences. During the past semester, more than 50 KCC students worked in on-the-job training positions in a variety of industries, each completing more than 200 hours, and mostly all to rave reviews.
We had approximately 200 students hired in April at our annual hiring event attended by more than 60 employers. Later in April, nine of our highest-achieving students were awarded entry into both union and non-union apprenticeships which includes post-secondary training worth as much as $40,000 and guaranteed high-wage employment. We recognized (as opposed to "rewarded") more than 50 percent of our student body with perfect or excellent (no more than two absences per quarter) attendance certificates this year. And for the second time in three years, a KCC student won the Lithia Jeep Patriot for perfect attendance.
Five KCC Film students recently traveled to Seattle as nominees of the Northwest Academy of Television, Arts, and Sciences Emmy Awards. Congrats to Kaelen Paulson who won an Emmy for best animated short. The number of industry certifications and college credits our students earn every year is extensive. The competitive advantage they gain by their achievements is clear. KCC is truly a gem within the Anchorage School District.
The King Career Center's doors are open to all 11th- and 12th-graders in Anchorage. We are a "time-share" school, meaning that our students spend half the school day at their home school and the other half with us. So if you have any "kids these days," or plan to have a few in the future, remember us.
Come visit any day, but particularly on Wednesdays, our Professional Dress Day. You'll see our students and staff shining like new dimes on those days.
One last thing about "kids these days." Like they always have, they want to be challenged, and valued, and listened to, and encouraged. Perhaps most of all, they would like to be respected as human beings who are trying to find – often grope – their way into adulthood. This business about having to earn respect? Bull. If only those who have "earned" respect by way of their age would show the amount of civility, politeness, and drive as the thousands of students I've had the privilege of working with each year, our world would be a substantially more positive and productive place.
Congratulations to our entire student body at KCC and to the thousands of young people across our great state. And I thank them for allowing me to sleep soundly and confidently each night.
Lou Pondolfino is the principal of the King Career Center in Anchorage. He is past president of the Anchorage Principals Association; the 2010 Alaska State Principal of the Year; and the 2011 Alaska State Career and Technical Administrator of the Year.