From staff reports

The Vicksburg Warren School District has added a new student club to its roster.

Vicksburg High School inducted 16 charter members and installed five officers into its chapter of the National Technical Honor Society.

Co-sponsor Lucy DeRossette hopes the club will boost enrollment in the vocational technology program at Hinds Community College’s Vicksburg campus.

“This is a national organization, but this is its first appearance in Warren County,” said DeRossette, also a student services coordinator for the school district. “To get in, students have to have a 3.0 average in all of their classes, be enrolled in a vo-tech class and have teacher recommendations. These students are going to be recruitment tools and ambassadors for this program.”

Vocational technology classes teach skills such as brick masonry, child care and drafting and are designed to help students enter the work force. The program is available to all public high school students in the VWSD.

“We’ve been trying to get this program for years,” added Pearlie Goodman, club co-sponsor and VWSD student services coordinator. “I am just hoping this will validate the program and show other students that it is worth it to attend these classes.”

Senior Glenn Gaston, president of the VHS club, said he hopes the group will give vo-tech teachers some recognition. “I feel like they don’t get enough credit for what they do, and they deserve to be recognized,” said Gaston.

In addition to Gaston, officers are vice president Mary Quinn DeRossette, secretary Kaitlin Ferguson, treasurer Lonell Macon and service chairman Deron Ford.

The NTHS began in 1984 when C. Allen Powell and Jon H. Poteat recognized a need to recognize vocational programs. Warren Central does not have an NTHS chapter, but DeRossette said she hopes one will be started there.