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Three Summerland School students competed in the virtual SkillsUSA national competition earlier this summer.

SkillsUSA prepares students for careers in technical, skilled and trade occupations.

According to the organization's website, more than 372,655 students and instructors participate annually.

The program helps students investigate 79 potential career paths in 16 career clusters.

Summerland students competed in state competition, virtually, in April and winners advanced to the national conference.

Calissa Kester's presentation was divided into three parts during a live Zoom meeting.

Carlee Livingston and Madison Melcher each were required to upload video of their presentations.

A requirement for all three participants needed to meet: a proctor must introduce each competitor and be present throughout filming.

Summerland SkillsUSA sponsor Michael Odell approached me about filling the role.

As a former speech coach, I was excited to view the final round and learn from each contestant.

In retrospect, I think we all discovered something new during the process. Lesson number one: technology does not always cooperate.

During Melcher's presentation, my iPhone screen faded to black. Only 30 seconds were remaining in her speech.

After a reboot, we started the process one more time. Mission successfully accomplished.

Approximately one week after the videos were submitted, Odell received notification that Livingston was in the running for a medal; however, she did not finish in the top three in her category.

Here's a look at each contestant, their projects and what they have discovered about being a SkillsUSA member.

Calissa Kester

A senior, Kester competed in the restaurant service. It seemed like a natural fit, as she has worked as a server at L-Bar-B Steakhouse, in Clearwater.

Her journey in the organization began in eighth grade.

"The first year, I didn't really know what to do, so I did prepared speech," she said.

She has also taken part in a team engineering activity and crime-scene investigation.

For the virtual state competition, Kester had "to pretend" to serve a customer and take a test over basic food service.

"It was like playing imaginary house, with imaginary friends. It was a little weird," she said.

To prepare for the national event, Kester said she put her two and one-half years of restaurant service to good use. She had one week to review the materials before competition.

"The hardest part was finding the dishes. It was a little overwhelming being virtual instead of in person," she said.

The first segment of Kester's national competition included server attire and appearance. Judges checked out outfit - a black pencil skirt and white shirt, nylons and black rubber-soled shoes.

The next step was to set a table with three place settings, seat a guest, have them order from a pre-determined menu, calculate the bill and present it to the customer.

The final step included food preparation. Kester could select between two options: Caesar salad or guacamole.

She chose the Mexican dip. On camera, she sliced and mashed avocados, deseeded and diced tomatoes, cut garlic and cried her way through cutting a potent white onion before presenting the final dish to the judges via videoconferencing.

Kester's kitchen skills came in handy as judges asked questions about the prep process and cleanup chores.

She said the amount of dedication a person needs to compete in a SkillsUSA event at this level has been eye-opening.

"You have to have focus and preparation."

If she could redo her virtual final, Kester would be more prepared.

"There were a few things that could have gone better. I think the table-side appetizer went well, besides tearing up from the onions," she laughed.

Not having an actual guest to serve made the competition awkward, according to Kester. If the competition, scheduled to be held in Lexington, Kentucky, would have been held, all competitors would have presented simultaneously.

While Kester said she enjoys working in food service, her post-high school interest is focused on law enforcement.

"I would like to work my way up to being a deputy," she said.

Carlee Livingston

Livingston, an eighth grader, joined SkillsUSA last year. Both years, she participated in job skills - open.

She qualified for state in 2020, but due to the pandemic, the annual conference was not held.

In this category, students may speak on any topic. "Usually its things you don't learn every day," she said.

To prepare for her speech, Livingston selected a topic she was familiar with, expected progeny differences, which compares animals within a breed for their genetic potential for a specific trait.

Livingston's family raises cattle and other animals.

"It makes it easier to put the project together and memorize the speech," she said. "You want to demonstrate that skill."

She wrote the presentation at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, to prepare for district competition.

"I had a lot of trouble trying to figure out what I was going to do this year. I wanted to focus on ag. It took a long time. Livingston said she may be able to use the speech in other vents, including 4-H or FFA.

While preparing her speech, Livingston discovered people like to learn about agriculture. "Even judges like to learn about it," she said. "I personally enjoy public speaking."

Livingston said public speaking can cause nerves, but she learns how to handle it.

"I get nervous ... but today I think I did pretty good. I've done this speech two other times. Every time I do it differently and modify it more each time."

If Livingston could redo any element of her presentation, she would remake the visual aid. "Also, not say 'um' so much. I

do say that quite a bit."

As she moves into high school, she will continue to participate in the SkillsUSA organization.

After high school, her plans aren't clear.

"I definitely want to have an ag background, but I also love kids, so I thought a teacher would be fun."

Madison Melcher

The Summerland senior has been part of SkillsUSA for four years and has "always done job demonstration - open." Through research and practical

experience, she has covered how to give shots to an animal using a banana and orange, preparing an artificial insemination gun and tissue sampling.

"I have an idea for next year. I'm working on it."

Melcher has qualified three times for national competition and, in 2018, won the national title in the demonstration category.

This year, her presentation explained Treacher Collins Syndrome and how to draw a sample for testing.

"I had the tissue sampling units because we test on our ranch, but I did research and found information on Treacher Collins Syndrome and made sure I had accurate pictures of each symptom. I found a substitute for a calf, since it would be difficult to have a different calf every time."

She also gained confidence in her presentation once the research phase was complete. Melcher said membership in SkillsUSA has improved her demonstration skills.

"I'm not always the best about how to do something. I'm very much just do it. I think this has helped me so I can go into the workplace and explain to other people how things need to be done and done properly." Melcher said she "typically gets nervous when I do stuff like this," but on the day of taping for nationals, she felt a calming presence.

"I thought 'I just know what I'm doing.' And, the technology kind of worked today."

During the state competition, Melcher presented her demonstration via Zoom.

"I had a heck of a time making sure they could see my pictures," she said. "It's hard to see those little aspects if you're not in person."

If Melcher had a chance to give the presentation one more time, she would practice more.

"I definitely tend to wing it sometimes or I'll get nervous and forget. I would definitely try to memorize it a little better so I sound confident in what I'm saying."

Melcher is a 4-H member and belongs to the Summerland FFA chapter.

She has given talks about DNA testing.

"I try to advocate at shows. I've had people come up to me and ask why I do what I do and why showing cattle is humane. I definitely want to get the message out that we are doing the best thing possible for these animals and we wouldn't be doing it just to hurt them."

Melcher plans to go into agriculture. It's the driving force behind all of her SkillsUSA presentations.

"SkillsUSA is very to the trades and I want people to realize agriculture is part of that."

Melcher plans to become a veterinarian.