Program receives windfall

Business owner M.J. Coker presented two donations to the COHS CTE program to help students compete at the upcoming SkillsUSA competitions in February. Pictured from left: COHS Senior Kia McGowen, Senior Amani Harwig, Freshman Leeann Isaacks, MJ Coker - President of M&J Electrical Supply, SkillsUSA Advisor Chef Joel Casiday, Freshman Nathan Dolney, and Sophomore Ashton Smith, Photo by Cassie Gregory

Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — Coldspring-Oakhurst High School Career & Technical Education (CTE) students have received a huge sponsorship thanks to the outreach of Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Joel Casiday and the generous donation from M&J Electrical Supply.

The funds will be used to help students at an upcoming CTE competition.

The SkillsUSA Texas District 7 contest for CTE students is set for Feb. 16-18 at Lamar State College-Port Arthur and Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont.

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“Students from schools in Deep East Texas from College Station to Jasper, Nacogdoches to Cleveland, the Golden Triangle of Beaumont and all points in between will travel to compete in career and technical skills and leadership contests covering all 16 CTE career clusters,” said Casiday.  “As the Culinary Arts technical chair, I reached out to our community via social media to see if any business in the technical trades area would like to sponsor our contest.”

He was contacted by M&J Electrical Supply, owned by M.J. and Jeremy Coker, for more information about the organization and contests.

“Once they knew about the organization’s purpose and the regional impact it had on our students and area schools, they decided to contribute $1000 to purchase supplies for the Culinary Arts contests,” said Casiday. “When I contacted them about the financial procedures for the donation, they informed me that they wanted to donate an additional $1000 to supply all of the electrical trades contests as well!”

M.J. Coker said she and her husband were thankful to have the opportunity to support the students in such a great endeavor.

“Thank you for allowing M&J Electrical Supply Inc. the opportunity to donate to these amazing programs offered,” said Coker. “We truly believe in the importance of students continuing their education in fun-filled and exciting ways that will build them into living out their passion in life and experience growth at all levels. We are honored and blessed to support such an amazing district, teachers, and students!”