Story by Sarah Salmons

Photos by Morgan Solomon

With hugs and high-fives from his mom and teachers, Chase Osborn proudly completed his favorite event of the Pre-ETS Job Olympics – mail sorting.

“I love sorting mail,” Chase said with a big smile.

The Pleasant Hill High School junior had trained all year and was proud to show off the skills he had worked so hard to develop.

For Chase, the experience extended beyond competition. He enjoyed meeting new friends and teachers from across the state and swimming at the hotel pool the night before the event.

His mother, Karen Osborn, said the event gave her a chance to celebrate her son’s growth and independence.

“This makes me very proud,” she said. “It gives me an opportunity to cheer for him. I also get to see a new side of him — his competitive spirit. This is important because it prepares him to have a job and be part of society.”

Chase was one of the 156 students from across Missouri who came to the Pre-ETS Job Olympics to compete, connect and celebrate the workplace skills they’ve developed throughout the year.

This was the first year for the event, which expanded local competitions to a statewide level.

Hosted through a longstanding partnership between the University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development and Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) helps high school students with disabilities build confidence, gain work experience and prepare for life after graduation.

“Today would not have been possible without the hard work and partnership between our pre-employment transition specialists, the teachers in our local schools, families, and our community partners,” said Kimberly Pudlowski, director of Pre-ETS. “To see all of them in one room, supporting their students as they achieved their goals, was exactly what we want to replicate every day, at the local level across the state.”

Throughout the Job Olympics, students competed in activities modeled after real workplace tasks and employment situations. Events included sweeping, sorting laundry, stocking shelves, folding towels, vacuuming, stuffing envelopes, bag stuffing and coin recognition. Students also participated in mock job interviews with local business leaders and community professionals.

To ensure fairness for all participants, competition events were held in breakout rooms closed to public viewing. Outside the competition areas, however, the atmosphere was full of energy as students sang and danced in the karaoke corner, played games and took photos with a bedazzled Truman the Tiger.

“Seeing how engaged students were and the pride they had in demonstrating their job skills was a reminder of why we do what we do,” Pudlowski said. “Our students are eager to work and to be included in jobs in our communities. Today, we saw just a few of the types of jobs they can do, but there are so many more.”   

For Dr. Wayne Burke, superintendent of Pleasant Hill R-III School District, the event represented an important opportunity for students to shine. Five students from the district, including Chase Osborn, qualified to compete this year.

“This is a phenomenal event,” Burke said. “Our motto as a school district is ‘every student, every day,’ because we want every student to succeed. The kids are so excited and pumped up. They have to earn this through hard work and practice. It’s like state for them.”

Centralia High School Junior Kendra Hines competed in towel folding, interviewing, professional dress and vacuuming events.

“This has been an amazing experience,” Hines said. “I love my teachers and staff members and have had a great time meeting everyone here.”

After graduation, Hines hopes to work at Applebee’s.

Alanna McCord, a paraprofessional in the school’s special education classroom, said the event builds confidence that extends far beyond job skills.

“Events like this give our students more confidence — not only in these life skills but at high school,” McCord said. “They get a lot of support from their peers. I have three high school students who came to cheer on Kendra and the other participants from our school.”

McCord said one student told her the experience has inspired her to pursue a career in special education.

“It’s nice for everyone to be included,” she said. “This event shows there’s a lot more to special education than meets the eye.”

One of the exhibitors, Yvonne Wright, LEAD Center Co-Director for the National Disability Institute, said events like the Job Olympics highlight students’ potential and future career opportunities.

“These kinds of events are great opportunities and show the skillsets and potential students have for their future careers,” Wright said.

The day concluded with an awards ceremony featuring Truman the Tiger, cheers from families and teachers and celebrations of students’ accomplishments.

For many participants, hearing their names called represented more than success in a single competition. It reflected months of practice, determination and growth.

And for students like Chase and Kendra, it was proof that the skills they’ve spent all year developing can open doors to independence, opportunity and a future full of possibility.