(L-R)John Bennett - Director, Josh Hanshaw, Nicole Jenkins, Congresswoman Capito, Sarah Bonnett, and Tim Swiger
Submitted by John Bennett
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, representative of the Second Congressional District of West Virginia stopped at Calhoun-Career Center on Monday May 1, 2006 to view the complex and visit with the students. Mrs. Capito was invited to visit the Center by Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center Director John Bennett while he was in Washington in March lobbying for the continuation of funding for Career and Technical Education programs.
Congresswoman Capito arrived at the Center a little before 9 a.m. with her aide, Mary Margaret Chandler. They were welcomed by John Bennett - Director, Mrs. Karen
Blankenship and her Health Occupations students.
Congresswoman Capito, escorted by students - Josh Hanshaw and Tim Swiger, began touring the labs. She began by walking through the modular that is being built for the Calhoun County Committee on Aging by the building construction class.
Representative Capito then toured the Alternative Learning Center, Business Education, Criminal Justice, ProStart, Cisco-Aries, Auto Technology, Metal Technology, ABE Building and Environmental Technology labs.
Following the tours Congresswoman Capito attended an assembly in her honor.
Special guests in attendance at the assembly were Ron Blankenship - Superintendent of Calhoun County Schools and President of the Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center Administrative Council (CGCCAC), Ed Toman - Superintendent of Gilmer County Schools and Vice President of the CGCCAC, Don Harris - Member of the Calhoun County Board of Education and CGCCAC, Larry Butcher - Member of the Gilmer County Board of Education and CGCCAC, Cheryl McCallister - retired teacher Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center, Larry McCallister - Calhoun County Commission, Rick Sampson, Calhoun County Commission, Carol Wolfe - Gilmer County Magistrate, Roger Propst - Town Recorder, Grantsville and Mary Margaret Chandler - aide to Congresswoman Capito.
Director Bennett introduced Representative Capito to make a few remarks to the student body. Mrs. Capito talked about her experience in Washington on 9-11 and how the Congressional leaders stood solid after the attack.
She also mentioned Director Bennett's visits to Washington and how she helped to secure funding for Career and Technical Education with the Carl Perkins funding. She hopes to be able to do the same in the near future for this year.
After Capito gave her remarks, Nicole Jenkins - a Criminal Justice student presented Mrs. Capito with a clock in the shape of the state of West Virginia and the engraving that read "Presented to Representative Shelley Moore Capito, Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center, May 1, 2006." Congresswoman Capito thanked her for the gift.
Following the assembly a reception was provided by the ProStart program with Ashley Reed, a ProStart student serving the punch. Student Sarah Bonnett registered the guests.
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