A Hastings Senior High student’s part-time job is helping her prepare for the SkillsUSA Nebraska Leadership and Skills Conference this April.
Senior Chandice Rogers is currently employed as a baker at the Red Bird Bakery in Doniphan. According to their website, Red Bird Bakery serves central Nebraska the finest in artisan pizza and fresh baked goods.
“My friend Eden said she worked there and I asked her to try to get me a job and here I am now,” Rogers said.
Rogers works at Red Bird Bakery on Fridays and Saturdays and occasionally comes in after school on Mondays to help prepare for the upcoming week.
Rogers is responsible for a plethora of tasks around the bakery.
“Sometimes I help run the cash register, but a lot of times I do the pizzas and help with other baked goods. Me and the owner are the only people who know how to roll out the pizza so I help her to roll out the dough and stuff like that,” Rogers said.
Along with working at a bakery, Rogers is also involved in Hastings Senior High’s SkillsUSA chapter where she competes in commercial baking. According to the national website, SkillsUSA is a national membership organization serving high school students who are preparing for a career in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. There is an annual state competition that SkillsUSA members can participate in with the hopes of advancing to the national competition.
Working in a bakery is helping Rogers prepare for her upcoming competition.
“Commercial baking is pretty much what I’m doing at the bakery so it’s just practice and I can use all the practice for the competition,” Rogers said.
Rogers has yet to place at the state competition, but she feels that this year is her year.
“I’m hoping I place this year because I made dumb mistakes last time. I’ve practiced a lot this year and I’m just smarter,” Rogers said.
Rogers will compete in the commercial baking competition at the SkillsUSA Nebraska Leadership and Skills Conference April 12-14 at Fonner Park in Grand Island.
