Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 16, 1993 TAG: 9302160158
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
LIFETIME SKILLS FROM VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Monna Booth has taught cosmetology at Blacksburg High School for 18 years. In that time she has seen many changes at the school - different classes and subjects, new personnel, renamed school holidays, more young people responsible for working to have what they want - but one thing has remained constant:The skills students learn in vocational education will be with them for a lifetime. Because of that, Booth thought there should be additional support for vocational education in the school. So she started the first school-based Vocational Boosters club in Virginia.
The boosters "Number 1 goal is to support, not only financially, but excellence in preparing students for jobs in the future," Booth said.
Booth doesn't know where the booster club idea came from. She just thought, "the band has a boosters, the sports have a boosters, why not us?"
The project started out small. Booth had each student and person interested in the club list three people or businesses that also may be interested in joining. The first meeting, held in October 1992, drew 14 people plus the vocational teachers. But at the latest meeting, the number attending increased to 20, partly because Booth has stressed getting more local businesses involved.
And what's in it for them?
"The satisfaction of knowing they have given support to the future leaders of America," Booth said. "That, and the assurance of knowing we will produce quality workers for them."
Businesses have, in fact, become interested in supporting the vocational boosters. Peter Anderson, 22, an electrician at Carter Electrical, is the chairman of the boosters club.
"There's a strong need for support of vocational education," Anderson said. "And businesses get future employees if they help them out now, while they're still learning. I know a couple businesses in the boosters club that have five, six, seven students from Blacksburg High School.
Anderson is a Blacksburg High School alumni member, still active in vocational education state offices. He said the vocational boosters is "a good thing - a long needed thing. In the past, when students have had to go to competitions, instead of preparing for the competitions, they have had to spend time raising money. Now they'll have more time to prepare."
Phyllis Olinger, secretary senior in Vocational and Technical Education at Virginia Tech, also helped get the club organized. She helped Booth divide the new members into committees and recruited professional members within her department.
Booth is optimistic about the club's future. Her goal is to have enough support to offer scholastic scholarships.
"I hope we will have a fair number that will attend meetings, especially alumni," Booth said. "The boosters will be our backbone and our students will be the spine."
The vocational boosters meet third Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the marketing department. Membership is $1 for students, $5 for professionals, and donations are accepted. Call Booth at 951-4455.