Life skills students recently participated in the Job Olympics.

Job Olympics is a competition that focuses on showcasing the skills of students in special education at a variety of different actual job situations. Special education teacher Colin Fitzgerald believes the event helps students to cultivate important skills. 

“It really teaches a lot of soft skills which are very important,” Mr. Fitzgerald said, “I think all students could benefit from an event like this.”

Six students from the Fort Osage School District took first place in their respective events on April 28. First place finishers include Zac Hopkins in both folding laundry and assembling pizza boxes, Elijah Benz in theater host and concession stand, Josh Ehlenburger-Vanohye in bussing tables, Dante Gardener in both custodial skills and computer data entry and Joe Bush in assembling pizza boxes. Junior Elijah Hernandez-Workman, who placed first in email skills and second in computer data entry, feels that the event was enjoyable. 

“My favorite thing about Job Olympics is computer data entry and email skills,” Hernandez-Workman said.

Fort Osage placed second overall in the Job Olympics. Junior Olivia Jeanes feels that the Job Olympics gives students an opportunity to have fun on top of learning. 

“My favorite part was the food and stuff,” Jeanes said. “Talking to other schools was fun.”

This year’s Job Olympics was the first one to take place since the Covid-19 Pandemic.