Leslie Jordan and Jeff Chandler were recognized at an awards ceremony January 25 at the Pinecrest Country Club as the first and second place essayists respectively for Spring Hill High School in the Laws of Life essay contest sponsored by LONGVIEW NEWS-JOURNAL and THE MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER. Leslie Jordan received a $200 cash award for her first place essay titled "Thank God for America," and Jeff received $100 for his second place essay titled "The Game of Life." Amber Boswell also participated in the contest receiving honorable mention for her essay titled "One Woman's Choice." The essays were written in response to an assignment in Miss Green's AP English class.

Congratulations to these students.

Spring Hill Mfg. Tech SkillsUSA Club; Champions at Work
submitted by Guy Fuller

There is a new club on the SHHS campus, the SHHS Manufacturing Technology SkillsUSA Club! Students enrolled in Manufacturing Tech classes are eligible to join. The SkillsUSA club will be attending the District 5 SkillsUSA competitions in Waco, March 2-3, 2007. This is the first year SkillsUSA has been introduced to Spring Hill Manufacturing Tech students.

There are 14 charter members. They are:

Most of the students have been working on welding and woodshop projects to take to competition. Some have stayed after school and worked on Saturdays towards completing their projects. The student's projects include: a deer blind, a deer feeder, a barbecue pit, a barbecue pit/smoker, a wrought-iron flower pot display rack, a baker's rack, a wrought-iron table, and a wooden end-table. These projects will be entered in the Project Exhibit Competition. Each project will be judged based on accuracy compared to their respective blueprints and quality of workmanship.

Each student will compete in the skills competition at district level. Welding students will compete in the Welding I Skills Competition. Machinists will compete in the Precision Machining Skills Competition.

If a student places 1st at the district competition, he or she will qualify to progress on to the SkillsUSA State Championship in Corpus Christi. Students who place first in the skills competitions at the state level will receive scholarships.

Members of SkillsUSA learn leadership skills and develop confidence that will help them succeed in the workplace after high school and college.

YBA Offers Free Income Tax Service

The Young Business Associates (YBA), club of the Diversified Career Preparation (DCP) work program, will be offering free income tax preparation at school with electronic filing for any student who worked in 2006. YBA students introduced the service project to all first block classes on January 25 and gave a handout for students to take home. The following week on February 1 during fifth block, students received a second flyer listing the information they needed to bring to have their taxes filed. Information included W-2s for all jobs held during 2006 and any 1099 INT/DIV received. Tax data was taken up February 5 - 9 before first block each morning. Tax returns are being completed and filed February 12 and 13.

YBA is trained by an IRS representative who will be in attendance during tax preparation of student returns. The representative is teaching the students tax preparation on computers using actual IRS software. Confidentiality is ensured. Each of the students signs a confidentiality statement with the IRS. Students tax return information will be stored in the school office for security. With electronic filing and direct deposit to a student's checking or savings account, refunds should be received in approximately 10 days. Students can save the $35 - $100 companies charge for completing these tax returns by allowing the YBA to complete their taxes for free. This invitation from the IRS to participate as VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers, will strengthen the student's resumes and provide service hours that prospective employers now look for in applicants, as well as scholarship donors.

Job Shadowing

In February and March, DCP students will be job shadowing with a business mentor in the chosen career field the students plan on pursuing after graduation. They shadow their mentors from half a day to a full work shift at the work site. Shadowing provides the opportunity to experience the job first hand at the actual work environment, ask questions, and make contact with professionals in the field whom they can call upon in the future.

Work Program Applications

For students beginning spring advisement, applications for the work program will be available through the counselor's offices and on the counter in the office during February and March. They are to be turned in with choice sheets to the counselors or can be given to Mrs.Scott. DCP students will be released to go to work after taking DCP and the courses needed for graduation. The number of courses taken by a student will depend upon their graduation requirements.

Work program requirements include:

* 16 years of age
* junior or senior
* application form
* work a minimum of 15 hours/week for 3 credits
* teacher references
* low absences and discipline referrals
* passing grades
* interview with co-op teacher

Jobs are available for co-op at a wide variety of types of businesses. Students work in retail, offices, medical, food marketing, restaurants, industry, and child care.

Eastman Applications Available for High School Co-op Program

Applications are available from the counselor for graduating seniors who are interested in a career with Eastman as a process operator or in the maintenance fields. The co-op program is not intended for students who are only seeking a summer job. The purpose of the program is to expose students to these fields via co-op opportunities at Eastman in association with approved Technical Colleges such as TSTC - Marshall, TSTC - Waco, NW Louisiana Technical College - Minden, Lamar Institute of Technology -Beaumont, and Kilgore College - Kilgore.

Requirements for application:

* Be in good standing with the high school with recommendation
* Have at least a C or better in Algebra I or higher math, and Chemistry or Biology in high school
* Have at least a 3.0/4.0 high school GPA
* Have intention of getting a two-year degree in Process Technology or Maintenance fields from an approved two-year technical college
* Be willing to intern with Eastman while attending college if offered
* Maintain good grades (3.0/4.0) while in college
* Be willing to work a 12-hour rotating shift schedule for Operator jobs
* Pass a background check, drug/alcohol test, and physical assessment
* Be 18 years of age by June 18, 2007
* Deadline for applying is March 2, 2007

Students who work during the summer will be evaluated for full tuition and fee scholarships in Operator and Maintenance fields at one of the Technical Colleges.

Sweetheart Hall Bistro, a Superb Dining Experience
submitted by Dee Ann Coker

The first ever Valentine dinner project was a tremendous success. Food Science students worked to prepare a meal that would impress the most discriminating diner, while the Interior Design class transformed the hallway into an intimate candlelit environment dubbed the "Sweetheart Hall Bistro." Guests strolled up the sidewalk by way of candlelight paper lanterns and entered doors that had been custom-painted by art department students. Students prepared and served 27 couples.

Practically every home economic student contributed toward the success of the project one way or the other.

The event was a fundraiser, and the money earned will be reinvested in the department for equipment and improvements to the foods lab. Students would like to thank parents, community members and teachers for supporting the project so wholeheartedly.