Airport baggage nearly required additional fees as several Canadian Valley Technology Center students recently returned home from national contests toting sparkly souvenirs.

Seven CV Tech students won national championships in their respective student organization contests. Two students captured silver medals, and a team of seven students brought home a bronze.

Kaitlin Perkins, 20, of Minco, topped them all. Perkins won both national gold and silver medals. As a young adult student attending half-day sessions last school year, she managed to apply quickly what she learned in Early Care and Education.

In this program, students observe how infants and toddlers develop and grow through daily interaction in an on-site childcare facility. Eventually, students begin planning activities which enhance a child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth.

Perkins first won a state gold medal in April and qualified for nationals in sunny San Diego. CV Tech covers travel costs, and the CV Tech Foundation provides a $150 stipend to pay for incidentals, such as theme park entry.

Her contest entry focused on providing safe places for children.

“In our daycare, we have a safe place where children can go when they’re upset,” Perkins said. “We try to teach them how to control their emotions.”

Perkins entered her project and said her instructor, Bambi Slimp, messaged her to inform her she was in the top 10 and would go on stage for the awards presentation.

“I was pretty excited and then pretty shocked when they called my name (for first place),” Perkins said.

Perkins then won a national silver medal with a second presentation in another category. She said she plans to return to CV Tech to complete her program.

“My teacher is amazing,” she said. “I love Mrs. Slimp so much. It’s so fun. You learn something new every day.”

Future plans including working in child education or going to college, Perkins said. She is currently working in CV Tech’s childcare center and going to school the other half of the day.

Perkins is a 2020 Minco High School graduate. For now, she is content living at home with parents, Anthony and Dixie Perkins, and completing school.

“Everyone knows my mom,” she said. “She was super stoked for me. I think she was even more excited than I was.”

Among CV Tech’s other national gold medal winners is Perkins’ classmate, Maudi Carter, of Yukon, who won the Early Childhood Presentation category for high school students.

At SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta, CV Tech’s five-member post-secondary Chapter Business Procedures team captured gold. Team members are Raegan Manning, of El Reno, Alec Samples, of El Reno, Alex Shepherd, of Hinton, Kyle Levesque, of Yukon, and Clayton Nelson, of Yukon.

CV Tech’s Chickasha Campus was well represented also with a runner-up finish in the National CNC Technician contest by James Mayhugh, of Cement. Additionally, their seven-member quiz bowl team won the bronze medal.

National Contest Placers
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
El Reno Campus
1. Maudi Carter, Early Childhood Presentation
1. Kaitlin Perkins, Minco, Focus on Children, Post-Secondary
2. Kaitlin Perkins, Minco, Focus on Children Presentation, Post-Secondary
SkillsUSA
Chickasha Campus
2. James Mayhugh, CNC Technician, Post-Secondary
3. Quiz Bowl team, Post-Secondary: Cash Muncrief, Zayne Jimenez, Alysa Hughen-Green, Brock Voyles, Kyle Perry, Omar Arredondo, Jarrett Linden
7. Andrew Martinez, CNC Technician
9. Prepared Speech – Trenten Rippy
9. Josh Morris, Mobile Robotics
El Reno Campus
1. Chapter Business Procedures (team): Raegan Manning, Alec Samples, Alex Shepherd, Kyle Levesque, Clayton Nelson
10. Dane Stowe, Electrical Construction Wiring. Post-Secondary
12. Jordan Macklin, Automotive Service Technology, Post-Secondary