TSA snags state honors

As the current school year draws to an end, students at Okmulgee Dunbar School were reminded of the need to not only excel academically, but also to use kindness in their everyday actions.

Dean of Students Sheryl Shipley organized the brief assembly which was held Monday with a guest speaker, who is not a new face to the staff and students. Shipley, along with staff members and guest visitors from Okmulgee-Okfuskee Youth Services, sported pink T-shirts encouraging all to be kind.

This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week, and a big thank you goes out to all the educators for their hard work, both inside and outside the classroom, and they help shape future minds.

Bill Williams, a former teacher and coach, spoke to the 5th-8th graders following an introduction by Principal Clayton Vaughn. Williams is now the head football coach at Hartshorne Public Schools.

Williams, also a motivational speaker, encouraged the Bulldogs to remember three things in life:

• Do What’s Right

• Do Your Best

• Treat Other How You Want to Be Treated Coach William was presented a special plaque following the conclusion of the assembly.

Here are just a few other reminders that Williams shares with others, that is a good course of action for everyone to remember:

• “It’s how you deal with failure that determines how you achieve success.”

• “People who blame others for their failures never overcome them. They simply move from problem to problem.

• “Caterpillars don’t become butterflies until they let go of the past and fearlessly seek the future.”

• “You only have control over three things in your life, the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take.”

Next week, Dunbar School will hold their awards programs on Wednesday. At the 8th grade program at 2 p.m., guest speaker will be OSUIT’s Chris Benge, vice president of Operations at the university.

— TSA Chapter Receives State Honors April 2023 was the first time Dunbar’s TSA (Technology Student Association) chapter took students to the Oklahoma State TSA Conference. Three students, along with advisor Courtney Norton, participated in three competitive events. Those students and their advisor came back with big goals for their student organization.

In the last week of April, students attended the conference and competed in 15 events. The Dunbar School chapter was recognized as one of only four chapters in the state to achieve Gold Level Chapter of Excellence.

Lovella Harjo, Chapter Vice President, made a significant difference in earning that award by personally earning Pathways of Excellence Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. She also earned Statesman, Congressional, and Senatorial Degree awards. She was recognized at the Opening Ceremony for Silver Pathways of Excellence and Senatorial Degree.

“We are proud of the work each and every student member put in to make this year a success! Congratulations Lovella and the rest of Dunbar TSA!”

Dunbar TSA’s Junior Solar Sprint Team also got 8th in the State, after making the top 10.

“Adversity tried to get this team down, but they still found success!”