The Crenshaw County College and Career program hosted a resume contest for all seniors recently. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Luverne sponsors this event each year, providing $100 cash prizes this year.

Program coordinator and career coach Haley Kilcrease said the contest gives students real life experience they can use after graduation.

“It gives them real life experience for after high school,” Kilcrease said. “Having interviews and filling out job applications helps get them prepared for the real world and life after high school.”

Winners at the high school level were Auburn Morrell and Try’Vionne Marshall from Brantley High School (BHS), Meghan White and Charlie McVay from Highland Home School (HHS), and Zoe McManigle and Hannah Burgans from Luverne High School (LHS).

School winners advanced to compete at the county level in the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative/Southeast AlabamaWorks Resume Contest to earn a position in the Wiregrass area contest.

McVay won the honor, along with a $250 scholarship from PowerSouth to be awarded to the college of his choice. He will compete in the Region 6 contest on April 19, for the chance to earn a $1,000 scholarship from Powersouth.

“I’m really excited to be able to represent my school,” McVay said. “I wasn’t even going to enter, but someone encouraged me to do it. Ms. Leslie Flowers guided me and I really think this will help me in the future. It helped me realize that what I’ve done through high school has paid off. The things I’ve done for myself didn’t come for free. The competitions I’ve competed in and the places I’ve worked are on my resume and I think that will benefit me.”

The regional competition will feature testimony of professional success stories from area residents and a luncheon where the overall winner will be announced.

The school system’s college and career program also partnered with Rex Lumber in Troy recently to host a “Get the Job” competition where senior high school students completed a mock job application. The top two applicants interviewed with Rex Lumber’s Human Resources department to determine which student would “get the job.” 

Each school’s winning senior received a $100 gift card. The runners-up were granted $50 gift cards.

First place winners from each school were Nolleigh Reaves from HHS, La’Erykah Harrell from LHS, and Eli Nichols from BHS.

Runners-up were Isabella Boyd from HHS, Miciah Jone from LHS, and Alana Barnes from BHS.

These competitions and others help the program empower students for a successful future, Kilcrease explained.

“We want to empower them and have them confident to be the best they can be for life after high school, whether that is to employ, enroll, or enlist,” Kilcrease said.