Students with special needs came from all over the Kansas City area to Johnson County Community College (JCCC) for the Job Olympics that took place on April 13. Quite a few students returned here with medals.

Those who placed in the top three were Alyssa Carey, filing letters; Danny Morones, change amounts; Trevor Morgan, bagging and stuffing, all seniors; Kyla Murphy, sorting mail; Jack Fischer, host and coin recognition; Davanie Butler, job application; Olivia Kindel, bagging and stuffing, all juniors; and David Moses, bagging groceries, and Sali Assefa, sorting laundry, all freshmen.

Different people from JCCC helped facilitate the event.

Job Olympics allows special needs students to compete in a variety of job events. Some of the events include filing letters, job applications, job interviews, setting/bussing tables, host/hostess, sorting mail, sorting laundry, folding towels, custodial work, stuffing/labeling mail, change amounts, and coin recognitions.

“I think it is a great time to focus on certain jobs/job skills that the students can do after high school,” Catherine Wormus, Life Skills teacher, said.

The students from the CBR classrooms and their peer mentors went to the event at 8:45 a.m., and after competition they had lunch. At 12:30 p.m., the awards ceremony began.

Students spent time in class and seminar learning the events and rules beforehand.

The top three in all events win medals and places fourth through 10th get a ribbon.

“We had many students receive medals,” Wormus said.

Those who ranked fourth through 10th were Serena Vassor and Alex Small, seniors. Brock Harrison, Angel Williams and Melanie Montes, sophomores; and Devin Lemke and Brandon Trent, freshmen.

“The students have fun competing. Of course, it is fun to get a medal, but it is fun to cheer all of the students in our school and those friends from other schools,” Wormus said.