Nikolay Getchell

Minnesota State Officer

I am currently going to school at the Stillwater Transition Program & Northeast Metro 916 as well as working at Discount Tire.  I am a Student Ambassador at my 916 Auto Dismantling course. I help other students since it is my second year in the program.

I have been in the Stillwater Transition Program for two years, and it has been amazing. I made some friends for life, and met some amazing staff. I recently left my long term job at Cub Foods as a Bakery Assistant to better utilize my training in Auto Dismantling, by taking a new job at Discount Tire.  I like my new job a lot helping people with their cars and trucks.  I mainly work as a tire attendant taking off tires, replacing them, checking them for leaks and mounting tires.

I have been in SkillsUSA for the past two years and I have had some great experiences through this organization.  Last year I was the Minnesota State Officer and Chapter officer of our organization.  I have learned a lot from the different competitions I have competed in.

I was part of the Stillwater team that won a state championship event in SkillsUSA last spring and we competed at the national level in Louisville, Kentucky.  

I have also volunteered in the community through the Transition program and SkillsUSA Stillwater chapter.  Events I have helped with include:  Adopt a Highway, Rake A Difference and working at Meals for the Heartland and Feed My Starving Children.

Transit Link: Ticket to Independence

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Chinese Proverb.

Charlie Bristow &
Tyson Kerr 

Tyson Kerr, first year student in the Transition Program has a goal of identifying transportation options within his community. Tyson learned how to access Transit Link last month and he made a practice run to Hy-Vee in Oakdale assisted with staff. Tyson works part-time at Candyland in downtown Stillwater. Tyson was scheduled to work at Candyland on Monday, 2/20 which was President's day and a non school day. Therefore, Tyson independently called Transit Link last week to set up a ride to and from work. Tyson's initiative and follow through to complete this task not only demonstrated responsible decision making but also his commitment to his job. WAY TO GO TYSON! ~The Stillwater Transitions Staff

Transit Link (formerly Dial-A-Ride) is a curb-to-curb minibus or van service for the general public that operates on weekdays throughout the seven-county metropolitan area. It is a shared-ride service, which must be reserved in advance. You may reserve a ride up to five days in advance, or call at least two hours in advance for same-day trips. Rides are subject to availability, and fares are based on the distance traveled. The base fare is $2.25, one way, for a trip up to 10 miles.

If you want to know more about Transit Link please click on the link below:

https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Services/Transit-Link/Washington-County-Transit-Link-Service.aspx

Century College Open House Night Feb. 21st

Century College will be holding its annual Open House in the West Campus Gymnasium from 5 - 7:30 pm on Tuesday Feb. 21st.

During this special event, Century College will be waiving the $20 college application fee (for first-time applicants), and will be giving away (2) $500 tuition giveaways, as well as a variety of other prizes. 

At the open house you will be able to:

• meet with faculty from Century College programs
• get information on admission, cost and financial aid, and scholarships
• learn about campus life activities and options
• tour state-of-the-art facilities 
• and much more. 

Whether you are a new or returning student, you won't want to miss this opportunity to see our campus and all that we have to offer.

NOTE: Registration is encouraged, but not required to attend the event. To learn more click on the following link:   https://www.century.edu/events/2017-2-21%E2%80%93century-college-open-house

Rachel Tangen Transition West Campus Program

Hi! I am Rachel! I currently am a student at the NE Metro 916 Animal Science program, I get to take care and play with animals for a class period. It’s so much fun! There is a hamster in the classroom that I just ADORE!!

I am also part of the Stillwater Transition program. It is an 18-21 program where they help people with disabilities be able to find work, help them make a resume and prepare for the life that is ahead of them. I am in my third year and am fairly sad about it, I have an amazing case manager Gina Runck.  I will be really sad to leave since I won’t see her anymore.

I am also part of the Transitions SkillsUSA Stillwater chapter. SkillsUSA is a student run organization where we prepare people for the world of work. I am a 2 time state champion and have gone to Nationals twice because of it.  Nationals was so much fun in Nashville, Tennessee last year.

I currently am working at the Stillwater McDonalds that is off of highway 36 next to Taco Bell. I love my job and night shift coworkers there. I actually got Employee of the Month last year in September for the first time, I couldn’t believe it!

Lastly, in my spare time, I LOVE to indulge in my huge hobby of anime and cosplay. I would consider myself an otaku yes. My current favorite anime is Yuri!!! On Ice, I love it so much! It really got me wanting to try ice skating, I never realized how fun it was. I also am a costume maker. I have made quite a few costumes for competition. When I go to conventions, I spend a few months making a costume that is on my skill, or I challenge myself, and enter a cosplay contest and either walk on the stage and show off my costume or perform a dance or skit with friends or just myself.   By Rachel Tangen

Learning to use the light rail blue line

Northeast Metro 916 FREE Accuplacer Testing dates

Spring Accuplacer begins Tuesday, February 21 and runs through Friday March 3 at Northeast Metro 916!!!! 

Students are responsible for signing up on their own!!  The sign-up sheets are in the 916 classrooms this week.  These sign-up sheets are due back to the contact person on or before next Wednesday, February 8.  Be sure to remind students to sign up in their classrooms.  Note: This is the last time the FREE Accuplacer Test will be offered to you this spring. If you plan to go to college you MUST test. 

Students to to the website links below and complete practice tests to prepare for the Accuplacer this is YOUR responsibility to be prepared for the test.  YOU MUST STUDY.  There are also numerous YouTube video's to watch to help you prepare as well.
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student/practice

https://www.studyguidezone.com/accuplacertest.htm

Accuplacer is a comprehensive exam given to some prospective college students for the purposes of helping colleges and universities properly place them. The Accuplacer is an untimed, multiple choice test which is taken on a computer, and consists of three question sections-reading comprehension, sentence skills, and math. 

SkillsUSA Stillwater Chapter President By Paris Raleigh

“What's it like being the president?” Is what one of my program supervisors, Karla McLaughlin, had asked me one school morning. Well, being the president of a SkillsUSA Stillwater chapter isn’t that easy of a job. The main duty of a SkillsUSA president is to facilitate meetings, this includes making an agenda for the meeting, following it during the meeting, and helping the chapter move along if they remain on one subject for too long.

Paris Raleigh Stillwater SkillsUSA President 

The president also makes sure that everyone is paying attention when a meeting is in order, asking for chapter members to politely put any distractions away and the beginning of, and sometimes during the meeting. If a chapter member isn’t able to attend a meeting for whatever reason, they can notify the advisor of the SkillsUSA chapter or the president, it’s preferred that they inform both so everybody knows what’s going on.
In other chapter activities the president is either monitoring or actively participating in the activity. They answer the questions of chapter members and help them work through problems as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Currently we as a chapter are preparing for our upcoming spring Minnesota State Championships for all SkillsUSA chapters at The Double Tree Hotel in Bloomington. If you would like to know more about SkillsUSA please click on the following link
http://www.skillsusa.org/
I am the first president of this chapter that is going to work at a company that sponsors SkillsUSA itself. I am looking forward to being accepted into Lowe’s as a new employee.