VICA members awarded at state

Senior Kyle Thomas to compete at national level

By Larissa Marceau

For three days, FHS VICA members stayed in Havre to compete in a statewide competition, and those three days yielded nine medals and one national qualifier, senior Kyle Thomas.

“I was flabbergasted, but it made me feel like I had accomplished something,” said Thomas, who will travel to Kansas City, MO, for the national competition June 22-26. “The best part about it was through hard work, I accomplished something that most people will never accomplish in their lifetime.”

During the competition on March 6-8, students competed inactivities ranging from drafting to carpentry to cabinet making.

“I got silver for the opening and closing ceremonies,” said junior Neil Creighton. “It brightened my day. I knew we would do well, but that just freaked me out.”

Senior Brandon Farnes received a bronze in architectural design and a silver medal in architectural drafting .

“It’s the best time you can have in three days,” said  Farnes. “It was a blast.”

Spending time after school and on the weekends preparing speeches for the opening and closing ceremonies proved worthwhile and the team placed second.

“I think we all did really well,” said junior Michele Schumacher. “Everyone was able to pull everything together for the competition.”

Throughout the competition, state advisors are chosen and junior Michele Schumacher was selected. In order to be selected, students must apply and give speeches, then the choices were voted upon.

“This is my first year so I think I did pretty well,” said Schumacher. “Especially being elected as a state adviser.”

 Medal winners from Flathead included Farnes, Shumacher, Thomas, seniors Cody Williams and Amanda Netherly and junior Abe Cooper. Shumacher was elected by the Delegate Assembly to serve as a state officer and Netherly retires this spring as state VICA Parliamentarian.

“I wish I would have gotten into it last year,” said Williams. “It’s a lot of fun and there’s a lot of pride involved in that organization.”

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