WALDPORT — Students enrolled in the natural resources program at Waldport High School won the state championship May 14 in the Oregon Future Natural Resource Leaders state convention.
Nine of 14 Waldport High students placed in various competitions – held online this year – to score 56 points and win the organization’s championship. Second was Tillamook High and third was Clatskanie.
The Oregon group is a career technical organization dedicated to supporting high school students interested in pursuing education or careers in natural resources and forestry.
“They worked so hard throughout the year and deserved to be recognized for their skills, said Jeff Skirvin, natural resources teacher at WHS.
The skills and competitions including online job interviews, 90 types of tree identification, log scaling, business math, speech and writing.
“We had always placed well in our athletic events before COVID,” said Mick Greenwood, one of the students who participated. “But to find out our strength was in the academic portion of forestry was really exciting.”