Student of the Month | January 2019

High School Student of the Month

Tri County Tech Names Kiwanis Club January High School Student of the Month

Tri County Tech student Sam McGlathery was recently named the Downtown Kiwanis Club’s Student of the Month for January. McGlathery, a senior at Copan High School, is currently enrolled in Tri County Tech’s two year Marketing Management Program.

McGlathery has been a stellar student from the first day he began his academic career at Tri County Tech. “As a first year student, Sam became an instant leader in class being elected as our Chief Marketing Officer,” said Carrie Miller, Tri County Tech’s Marketing Management instructor. “He has always displayed a high degree of ambition in his class work as well as in his limited free time.” McGlathery has always been interested in Marketing and the wide variety of careers that can come out of the field, but the thing he loves the most is getting to meet new people. “Growing up in Copan you don’t really get too many new faces,” said McGlathery, “getting to know fourteen or fifteen new people in class was always a lot of fun for me.” With McGlathery’s outgoing personality, to say he is engaged is an understatement.

Not only a Student of the Month, but McGlathery has also been recognized with many other prestigious awards. This past year he placed second in the DECA State Career Development Conference and represented the Marketing Management Program by competing at the international level in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also awarded the Kiwanis Local Sophomore of the Year and placed in the top twenty nationally. Beyond that, McGlathery has been appointed Boys State Commissioner of Labor and has been recognized at the FFA Washington Leadership Conference. McGlathery also spends considerable time participating in clubs such as FFA, Beta Club, and NHS.

While juggling his responsibilities as a student and all the offices he holds, McGlathery also finds time to participate in five sports. “Here lately I have been really getting into powerlifting,” said McGlathery, “I am a little behind so I have been pushing hard to catch up in time for the next powerlifting meet.” Along with powerlifting, McGlathery also participates in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field.

Adult Student of the Month

Tri County Tech Names Kiwanis Club January Adult Student of the Month

Tri County Tech student Spencer Smith was recently named the Downtown Kiwanis Club’s Student of the Month for January. Smith, an adult student, is currently enrolled in both Automotive Service Technology and Precision Machining Operations.

In the morning you can find Smith deconstructing vehicles and troubleshooting engine issues. “I love how it is almost like a puzzle. Putting stuff back together is a good way to pass the time and focus.” Smith said. Once the clock strikes noon, Smith makes his way to Tri County Tech’s manufacturing building for PMO. “My favorite part about machining is the complete precision of everything,” explains Smith. In the Precision Machining program, students must measure everything to the exact degree, and watch as their creations come together perfectly.

Outside of the classrooms and workshops, Smith spends his time outdoors. “I have actually built a fort out in the woods behind my house,” said Smith, “it’s been about three years of off and on work.” When he is not building, Smith enjoys traveling with friends, backpacking, and rock climbing whenever the opportunity presents itself.

After graduation, Smith plans to attend Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology to further his knowledge. “ Spencer accomplishes his tasks with great initiative and a very positive attitude,” said Richard Herard, one of Smith’s program instructors. Smith plans to tackle to Toyota program once enrolled at OSUIT, where he will utilize the latest Toyota and Lexus vehicles to learn about transmission & transaxles, suspension, noise vibration, electronic systems, automatic climate control, and much more.