Southern Oklahoma Technology Center students are winning competitions while getting a head start on their careers.
“I’m hoping to be a producer and being bigger than Steven Spielberg — that would be awesome,” Ardmore’s Jett Phillips said.
Phillips won fourth place in digital media production at the state Business Professionals of America contest.
The competition consisted of students making a two-minute video promoting next year’s BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., and giving a five to seven minute presentation to a panel of judges on the making of the video.
“You have to talk about the development, production and post-production to the judges all while smiling and looking good,” Marietta’s Johnny Aguilar said.
Aguilar won first place in digital media production.
Students that place at state will advance to compete in BPA’s National Leadership Conference in Dallas in May.
“The kids see it as kind of a bummer that it’s so close,” digital production instructor Dayna Stephens said.
The conference takes place in a different city each year –– last year it was in Reno, Nev. –– and next year, it will be in Anaheim, Calif.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to travel,” Stephens said.
Other winners included Sierra Hinds from Thackerville, who placed first in medical transcription and third in medical office procedures.
Her contests included transcribing patient chart entries and answering questions on medical legal matters, medical words and abbreviations.
Hinds is an intern at the Marietta Doctors Clinic and said that she plans to attend college for a medical business management degree.
“I do the paperwork. I don’t do blood and guts on me or around me,” Hinds said.
Also in medical office procedures, Rachelle Higgs from Lone Grove placed second, Michelle Sexton from Davis placed third and Nicole Pumphrey was in the top 10.
Pumphrey and Tracy McGahan from Lone Grove placed third in administrative support team.
Claude Howard from Marietta was a state finalist in fundamentals of spreadsheet applications.
Jennifer Lindsey, 221-6526
jennifer.lindsey@ardmoreite.com
