Senior Ashley Rini and juniors Tanna Thronson and Krystal Tucker represented Oxford High School at the second annual SkillsUSA Dinner and Fashion show Wednesday May 9.
They joined over 65 students from across Oakland County to demonstrate the skills they’ve been learning as part of the curriculum at the Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast (OSTC-NE) and to help offset costs for an upcoming national conference.
According to the OSTC website, OSTC offers upperclassmen a ‘valuable extension? to their high school experience and brings students ‘customized, self-directed learning? on a path to career success. Students attend high school part day, and then come to the OSTC campus to work in a field they are interested in pursuing after graduation.
Professional training is available in cosmetology, culinary arts, health sciences, construction trades, CAD, transportation technology, engineering, biotechnology, environmental science, and in many other career paths.
OSTC is a place where kids from Oakland high schools can ‘come and blossom,? said Dean Andrea Williams. OSTC offers a rigorous two year program for juniors and seniors, Williams said, in which students can gain 30 credits toward classes at Oakland Community College.
Thronson found the OSTC program suits her career interests, and is something she recommends for others in high school. It’s ‘free through Oxford High school,? she said. Rather than take college ‘classes that may not pertain? she’ll receive a professional license when she graduates.
Rini agrees with Thronson, and said the technical school has been an ‘amazing opportunity.? She said the dinner and fashion show was a ‘cool way to show off skills and raise money.?
She decided to sign up for the program because styling hair is her passion. She has always enjoyed cutting and styling hair; it’s great to ‘give someone a whole new look and to see the smile on their face (when they) see what I did,? Rini said.
Now finishing her second year at OTSC, Rini advises underclassmen to look into the technical school. ‘It’s a big commitment,? she said, but at seventeen years of age she is nearly ready to take the state board examination to become a licensed cosmetologist.
For more information about the Oakland Schools Technical Schools, contact Andrea Williams at 248-451-2700.