INDEPENDENCE, MO -
There's a lot more to FOX 4 Young Achiever of the Week John Moore than meets the eye. John is unassuming and humble but there's a fire on the inside, a drive to be the best. And that drive has taken John to the pinnacle of career and technical education in Missouri.
It's the daily grind for John Moore, learning all the basics of repairing damaged cars and trucks. John loves it, for the almost magical transformations he can create.
"Somebody turns something in that's all broken down and beat up," says John, "the best part is seeing it when it leaves." The Fort Osage High School senior is in the Auto Collision Repair Program at the district's Career and Technology Center. Much of it is very high-tech but it's still painstaking, labor-intensive skill building.
"It's all about the rewards from doing something and making it the best it can be," says John. And now a major award for his work ethic and ability. John's been honored as state Tech Prep Student of the Year for Northwest Missouri by the consortium of all of the career and technical education schools in the state.
"He's not scared to do any job," says Jeff Etherton, Fort Osage CTC Auto Collision Repair Program instructor. "He has just kind of a natural quiet confidence that he brings out in everything he does." The award is not just for what John can do in the shop. It's also for his fine general education record and his strong leadership in the school's entire Tech Prep program.
"He is just always there to help," says Etherton. And it's for all the time he's put in through 4-H for charities like Harvesters and Habitat for Humanity, helping to repair damaged lives.
"We can all do our part," says John. "Eventually everybody gets down on their luck and that's what it's mostly about." John aims for big things outside the collision repair program as well, shooting for the stars in everything he takes on. And that includes shooting. A dedicated marksman, John recently won his way onto the Missouri state 4-H rifle team and will compete in June at the national invitational championship.
"The secret?," John responds to a question about how to become a champion at shooting sports. "Just spending time out on the range." Hours and hours practicing, in all kinds of weather, focusing not on the winning but on the journey to get there, all the work and the commitment.
"It's about improving yourself and at the same time when you set those goals to be better and better, it will pay off in the long run," says John. It's an attitude for aptitude that has John at the top of the shop and keeps him grinding away.
John's next goals to set will be at the Missouri SkillsUSA state competition next week. Hundreds of high school and post-secondary students will be at Linn State Technical College for that. They'll showcase their abilities, knowledge and leadership in dozens of career and technical education areas. And, as usual, the national SkillsUSA contests will be in Kansas City in June.
FOX 4 News is Working 4 You to spotlight outstanding young people and their positive accomplishments. In our weekly report called Reaching 4 Excellence we meet young achievers in subjects like academics, the arts, leadership, community service, volunteerism, career exploration, overcoming obstacles and heroism. Watch for Reaching 4 Excellence every Wednesday on FOX 4 News at 9 p.m. and every Thursday on FOX 4 News at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.
It's the daily grind for John Moore, learning all the basics of repairing damaged cars and trucks. John loves it, for the almost magical transformations he can create.
"Somebody turns something in that's all broken down and beat up," says John, "the best part is seeing it when it leaves." The Fort Osage High School senior is in the Auto Collision Repair Program at the district's Career and Technology Center. Much of it is very high-tech but it's still painstaking, labor-intensive skill building.
"It's all about the rewards from doing something and making it the best it can be," says John. And now a major award for his work ethic and ability. John's been honored as state Tech Prep Student of the Year for Northwest Missouri by the consortium of all of the career and technical education schools in the state.
"He's not scared to do any job," says Jeff Etherton, Fort Osage CTC Auto Collision Repair Program instructor. "He has just kind of a natural quiet confidence that he brings out in everything he does." The award is not just for what John can do in the shop. It's also for his fine general education record and his strong leadership in the school's entire Tech Prep program.
"He is just always there to help," says Etherton. And it's for all the time he's put in through 4-H for charities like Harvesters and Habitat for Humanity, helping to repair damaged lives.
"We can all do our part," says John. "Eventually everybody gets down on their luck and that's what it's mostly about." John aims for big things outside the collision repair program as well, shooting for the stars in everything he takes on. And that includes shooting. A dedicated marksman, John recently won his way onto the Missouri state 4-H rifle team and will compete in June at the national invitational championship.
"The secret?," John responds to a question about how to become a champion at shooting sports. "Just spending time out on the range." Hours and hours practicing, in all kinds of weather, focusing not on the winning but on the journey to get there, all the work and the commitment.
"It's about improving yourself and at the same time when you set those goals to be better and better, it will pay off in the long run," says John. It's an attitude for aptitude that has John at the top of the shop and keeps him grinding away.
John's next goals to set will be at the Missouri SkillsUSA state competition next week. Hundreds of high school and post-secondary students will be at Linn State Technical College for that. They'll showcase their abilities, knowledge and leadership in dozens of career and technical education areas. And, as usual, the national SkillsUSA contests will be in Kansas City in June.
FOX 4 News is Working 4 You to spotlight outstanding young people and their positive accomplishments. In our weekly report called Reaching 4 Excellence we meet young achievers in subjects like academics, the arts, leadership, community service, volunteerism, career exploration, overcoming obstacles and heroism. Watch for Reaching 4 Excellence every Wednesday on FOX 4 News at 9 p.m. and every Thursday on FOX 4 News at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.
