THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506070215
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Danielle Hoggard and Jason Crockett spent the past school year serving food at Long John Silver's and Burger King restaurants. The First Colonial High School seniors spent an evening recently at the Golden Corral Restaurant allowing others to serve them.
They are members of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, a program that pairs students who want to gain work place experience with employers who will hire them. The big night at the Golden Corral was the year-ending employer/employee banquet, which honored both.
Jessie Brown teaches industrial cooperative training, a facet of VICA, at First Colonial. She hurried about the room prior to the dinner checking seating arrangements, greeting attendees, and passing out hugs and encouraging words.
``I'm just so proud of all of them,'' said Brown. ``They've worked so hard, both on the job and in the classroom. There's Troy. Oh, my goodness.''
Brown went toward Troy Bell to embrace him. Bell, a 1984 graduate of First Colonial, went on to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and graduated from Old Dominion University with a business degree in 1988. Today, Bell manages a Revco drugstore.
``Troy hired one of our students this year, Julio Rodriguez, so I feel especially proud,'' she said. ``I've seen the program come full circle.''
The Bell-Rodriguez chemistry must have come together. Rodriguez won a most improved attitude at the festivities.
``One of the goals of the program is to remain on the same job for the entire year,'' said Brown. ``Some of the kids are laid off. However, we're usually able to achieve that goal.''
Students have to have a job to participate in ICT, and there is a classroom component.
Employers and employees were seated together at the banquet. Crockett, who plans to become a history teacher, sat across from Joyce Wysinger, his boss.
Hoggard and her friend, Latricia Chavis, who works at Oceana Naval Air Station exchange, sat at the same table.
Another future teacher, Robin Baker, sat at the adjacent table with her employer, Faye Lowton, director of Kings Grant Day Care. Baker will enter Catawba College in North Carolina in September to study education.
``I thought it was good experience to see what dealing with children is really like in the classroom,'' said Baker who won three special recognition awards during the evening.
Ryan Bagsby, reporter for ICT, helped Brown pass out the awards. He sat at the front table, near his father, Clifton McCoy, a supporter of the employer/employee effort.
Armand Taylor, the school system's coordinator for engineering/technical programs, and Patrick Konopnicki, director of technical and career education, attended the banquet. The two long-time educators said they believe firmly in preparing students for a global economy work place, one in which practical, technical experience will be integral.
After showing a videotape of students on the job, Brown called First Colonial principal Stephen Charton to the podium to deliver closing remarks, but the ceremony did not end until her grateful students presented her with a bouquet of roses.
``I have a most rewarding job,'' she said. ``And not just because of the flowers. It's wonderful to see the students gain experience and maturity, go on to successful careers.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY EDWARDS
Student Ryan Bagsby, left, helps Jessie Brown, the industrial
cooperative training teacher at First Colonial, pass out awards.
Photos by GARY EDWARDS
Student Ryan Bagsby, left, helps Jessie Brown, the industrial
cooperative training teacher at First Colonial, pass out awards.
by CNB