Area Girls Hear About 'Nontraditional' Careers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
In its fifth year, the keynote speaker for this year's workshop was WNBA player Shanna Zolman Crossley.
Crossley, 24, grew up in Milford and graduated from Wawasee High School in 2002. That year, she was named Indiana's Miss Basketball and became Indiana girls' leading all-time scorer with 3,085 points.[[In-content Ad]]Crossley then majored in journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee, where she was a four-year member of the Lady Vols basketball team under Coach Pat Summit. After graduating from the university in 2005, she was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars, playing there for the past two seasons.
She is married to Andrew Crossley, a former University of Tennessee football player.
"She is a dynamic young woman," said Phil Metcalf, Wawasee Career and Technical Cooperative coordinator, in his introduction of Crossley.
Crossley spoke about what it takes to succeed, accomplish your goals and to follow your dreams.
Growing up, she said she and her brother were brought up in a very disciplined home with good work ethic. Nothing was given to them for free, they had to work for it. They were taught to set goals for themselves.
"Ever since the third grade, I knew I wanted to be a basketball player," Crossley said. It was something she loved and enjoyed. "I was a gym rat. That was me. I loved it."
She said she did whatever it took to make it happen. With her goals set, she accomplished a dream in becoming the 2002 Miss Basketball.
She always wanted to play at the University of Tennessee and play under Summit. She worked hard at her goal, working in the gym for three to six hours a day. She was recruited to the Tennessee team. Though her goal of winning a national basketball championship wasn't accomplished while she played at Tennessee, Crossley was able to make her next dream come true. She was drafted into the WNBA.
"My work ethic is definitely God-given," Crossley said, "but it's also something I work at every day."
Besides working hard and setting goals, Crossley said it's also important to make sacrifices and persevere. Having supportive friends and family around her also helped Crossley to accomplish her dreams, she said.
Lastly, Crossley said having her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ is important to her. She doesn't play for media and public attention, but for God. She said she gives Him the honor and glory.
"Success in God's eyes is using the talent he has given you," Crossley said.
Before Metcalf presented her with a plaque, Crossley told the girls, "Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it."
After the keynote speaker, the sophomore girls participated in round table discussions with about 27 professional women who have jobs in careers not typically held by women. Careers included the military, a pilot, air traffic controller, heavy equipment operator, truck driver, electrician and others.
The girls who registered to participate in the workshop this year were impressed with the presentations.
"I like it because it's interesting to know what women can do," said Molly Wright, Tippecanoe Valley student.
Warsaw student Ashley Haines said, "I think it's a good program. It's very educational. It's good to see all the things we can do that guys think we can't."
"I think it's a great opportunity," said Wawasee student Kaytie Woodard. "It's great that we get to learn about all these jobs and it's interesting."
The women giving the presentations also said they were impressed with the workshop.
Cindy Shank, an electrician through IBEW Local 153, who works for Herrman & Goetz Inc., South Bend, said, "I think it opens their eyes. It's an eye opener."
Shank said she has been in her trade for 27 years, and her husband also is an electrician. The workshop lets the girls know they can make a decent wage like a man and still be a woman.
"It's an excellent program. I love to see the girls inspired by different folks," said Cindi Clawson, WNDU Channel 16 meteorologist. She said it opens up the girls' eyes to careers they haven't thought of entering before.
For herself, Clawson said it's a good feeling to inspire others even if they don't decide to go into the field. However, she did say she is seeing more women going into television meteorology. "I think we'll just continue to see more," she said.
With the workshop, she said she hopes more girls will be inspired to go into the science-type fields.
Lori Everest is a heavy equipment operator with Everest Excavating Inc. She said the girls asked her questions about the cost of equipment, if she liked her job and if she likes working with her family in the family-owned business.
"They seemed like they enjoyed it," Everest said.
Of the workshop, Everest said, "I think it's awesome. I think it's a good experience. Even if these girls don't want to do any of these (careers), it's neat to see."
Financial contributions for the workshop were provided by Bibler Family Charitable Trust, Perkins Grants, Warsaw Education Foundation and Wawasee Building Trades Inc. Fourteen other businesses and organizations provided other contributions.
In its fifth year, the keynote speaker for this year's workshop was WNBA player Shanna Zolman Crossley.
Crossley, 24, grew up in Milford and graduated from Wawasee High School in 2002. That year, she was named Indiana's Miss Basketball and became Indiana girls' leading all-time scorer with 3,085 points.[[In-content Ad]]Crossley then majored in journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee, where she was a four-year member of the Lady Vols basketball team under Coach Pat Summit. After graduating from the university in 2005, she was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars, playing there for the past two seasons.
She is married to Andrew Crossley, a former University of Tennessee football player.
"She is a dynamic young woman," said Phil Metcalf, Wawasee Career and Technical Cooperative coordinator, in his introduction of Crossley.
Crossley spoke about what it takes to succeed, accomplish your goals and to follow your dreams.
Growing up, she said she and her brother were brought up in a very disciplined home with good work ethic. Nothing was given to them for free, they had to work for it. They were taught to set goals for themselves.
"Ever since the third grade, I knew I wanted to be a basketball player," Crossley said. It was something she loved and enjoyed. "I was a gym rat. That was me. I loved it."
She said she did whatever it took to make it happen. With her goals set, she accomplished a dream in becoming the 2002 Miss Basketball.
She always wanted to play at the University of Tennessee and play under Summit. She worked hard at her goal, working in the gym for three to six hours a day. She was recruited to the Tennessee team. Though her goal of winning a national basketball championship wasn't accomplished while she played at Tennessee, Crossley was able to make her next dream come true. She was drafted into the WNBA.
"My work ethic is definitely God-given," Crossley said, "but it's also something I work at every day."
Besides working hard and setting goals, Crossley said it's also important to make sacrifices and persevere. Having supportive friends and family around her also helped Crossley to accomplish her dreams, she said.
Lastly, Crossley said having her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ is important to her. She doesn't play for media and public attention, but for God. She said she gives Him the honor and glory.
"Success in God's eyes is using the talent he has given you," Crossley said.
Before Metcalf presented her with a plaque, Crossley told the girls, "Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it."
After the keynote speaker, the sophomore girls participated in round table discussions with about 27 professional women who have jobs in careers not typically held by women. Careers included the military, a pilot, air traffic controller, heavy equipment operator, truck driver, electrician and others.
The girls who registered to participate in the workshop this year were impressed with the presentations.
"I like it because it's interesting to know what women can do," said Molly Wright, Tippecanoe Valley student.
Warsaw student Ashley Haines said, "I think it's a good program. It's very educational. It's good to see all the things we can do that guys think we can't."
"I think it's a great opportunity," said Wawasee student Kaytie Woodard. "It's great that we get to learn about all these jobs and it's interesting."
The women giving the presentations also said they were impressed with the workshop.
Cindy Shank, an electrician through IBEW Local 153, who works for Herrman & Goetz Inc., South Bend, said, "I think it opens their eyes. It's an eye opener."
Shank said she has been in her trade for 27 years, and her husband also is an electrician. The workshop lets the girls know they can make a decent wage like a man and still be a woman.
"It's an excellent program. I love to see the girls inspired by different folks," said Cindi Clawson, WNDU Channel 16 meteorologist. She said it opens up the girls' eyes to careers they haven't thought of entering before.
For herself, Clawson said it's a good feeling to inspire others even if they don't decide to go into the field. However, she did say she is seeing more women going into television meteorology. "I think we'll just continue to see more," she said.
With the workshop, she said she hopes more girls will be inspired to go into the science-type fields.
Lori Everest is a heavy equipment operator with Everest Excavating Inc. She said the girls asked her questions about the cost of equipment, if she liked her job and if she likes working with her family in the family-owned business.
"They seemed like they enjoyed it," Everest said.
Of the workshop, Everest said, "I think it's awesome. I think it's a good experience. Even if these girls don't want to do any of these (careers), it's neat to see."
Financial contributions for the workshop were provided by Bibler Family Charitable Trust, Perkins Grants, Warsaw Education Foundation and Wawasee Building Trades Inc. Fourteen other businesses and organizations provided other contributions.
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