'Santa Breakfast' Offers Food, Funding for Promising Students

Students and advisors from the Center of Applied Technology (CAT) South’s SkillsUSA team are prepping for their big holiday bash this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

On Saturday morning, everyone throughout the area is invited to attend the “Breakfast with Santa” event at CAT South to enjoy the holiday spirit, and raise some money for local students competing in skills competitions. Initially, Riva resident and X Factor star David Correy was scheduled to sing at the event. However, his sprouting music career created some conflicts, causing him to cancel.

The event will feature pancakes, photos with Santa, crafts, games and more. But most importantly, it will help promising young students raise funds so they can compete in trade and leadership competitions, said CAT South teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Michelle Dugans.

“With SkillsUSA, we receive no funding whatsoever from the school system, so the entire organization is funded by the students themselves,” Dugans said. “Usually, it costs us about $30,000 per year to fund the program on average, including competitions.”

Comprised of about 120 kids from CAT South, the SkillsUSA team has many students who compete at regional contests, including 10 to 20 who make it all the way to nationals, Dugans said.

To fund those endeavors and their projects, the team hosts golf tournaments, endless pizza and cookie dough fundraisers. The Christmas-themed breakfast event is just another way to help local students reach for the stars, Dugans said.

Admission to the breakfast is $7 per person. Children 2 or younger get in for free. Including in admission is a free picture with Santa, pancakes and more.

Regardless of someone’s love for pancakes, Dugans said she hopes people take the time to help promising students compete for SkillsUSA and develop their skills for the future.

“SkillsUSA is preparing students to become skilled workers in the workforce as well as leaders in the community. The more funds we have, the more exposure we can give to our students,” Dugans said. “These kids are really looking at how they can help themselves and others.”