CAPE STUDENTS WIN BREAKING TRADITION AWARDS

Careers know no gender, say Ricky Garza and Jeffrey Ostendorf. The two students at Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School were regional winners in the statewide Breaking Tradition contest.

Ostendorf is a modern office technology student, and Garza is a commercial foods students. Both courses traditionally attract female students.

Ostendorf, who is on the honor roll, enrolled in the school's office technology course to help prepare him for college, where he plans a business degree. He is also gaining practical experience as an office employee at the Jim Wilson Co., through the Cooperative Office Education program.

Instructor Barbara A. Lohr says Ostendorf's "excellent skill level has made him well-liked and accepted by everyone." She added that although he is the only male in the class, "he has enough self-confidence that he doesn't let the teasing bother him."

Ostendorf said, "I believe that doing the computer work that I do in my class has changed me for the better. In my COE trainng at Jim Wilson Co., there are many men that do office work instead of women. Many men are getting into this field, and I think it is a good field to get into."

Garza hopes the commercial foods program will help him reach his dream of opening his own restaurant. Garza, who has won district and state Vocational Industrial Clubs of America competitions in culinary arts, arrives at school two hours earlier than the other students to help his instructor perform daily prep tasks.

Instructor Mary Ann Pensel describes Garza as an enthusiastic student who works extra hours and selects special projects and recipes that challenge him to develop new skills.

The most notable thing about Garza, however, is the fact that he travels 150 miles round-trip to go to school and also takes care of his three small children while his wife works. Luckily, SynTech Inc. provides him with financial help to attend school.

"I love to cook," Garza said. "If you really love doing something no matter what it is, just work real hard and you will find no limit to how far it will take you."

The following students were chosen as honorable mentions in the contest: Jamie Dawn Laxton, a drafting student; Arthur L. Matthews, a licensed practical nursing student; Paula Ann Ruhl-Cain, pursuing a career in hotel/motel management; and Juanita Swift, a building trades student.

The purpose of the Breaking Tradition contest is to recognize, encourage and provide finanical assistance for Missouri's nontraditional students and to increase community support for vocational education. Nontraditional students are defined as those studying careers traditionally chosen by the other gender.

Dorothy Hardy coordinated the vocational school entries.