Students Build Real-World Skills for Career Success At Lex La-Ray, students are developing essential work-ready skills that prepare them for success beyond the classroom. Through hands-on learning, they build critical thinking abilities by exploring topics in depth, asking meaningful questions, and conducting research. In addition, students practice key employability traits such as attendance, teamwork, participation, professionalism, ethics, and safety — skills aligned with industry standards.

As part of their career preparation, students also complete the employment process by creating resumes and cover letters, filling out job applications, and participating in mock interviews with industry professionals.

Lex La-Ray would like to thank our business and industry partners for their time and assistance in developing our students to be workready. Our original mock interview dates had to be rescheduled due to school closure, but many partners were able to reschedule along with us. Interviews will now be held April 24th and 25th.

Tiffany Daly – Lexington High School Linda Florence – Immanuel Lutheran School Brad Himbury – Ironworkers Local 10 /JEDunn Construction Ssg. Troy Terry – MO Army National Guard Moné Taylor – 1012 Main Shawn Meyer – AtWork Personnel Heather Combs – Collision Leaders Aaron Ogle – Henkle Riverbend Heights Health & Rehabilitation Center Shelly Harden – Lafayette County Enterprises Tyler Adlich – O’Reilly Auto Parts Software Engineer II Mo Cisneros – Mid-America Carpenters Apprenticeship Ryan Tucker – Building Trades Instructor 26-27 Contest Season

Our student organizations have been gearing up for state contests. Students from Lex La-Ray FCCLA Chapter competed at the State Leadership Conference in Springfield, MO on March 15-17.

Contest results: Baking and Pastry: Keaton Patten – Bronze Career Investigations: Jazmine Lopez-Maravilla – Silver Culinary Arts: Trey Perez – Silver – Top 5 Job Interview: Annabella Crosetti – Silver Professional Presentation: Haylee Marrant, Ava Bozarth, & Lillyanne King – Silver Luke Peterson, Serenity Crews-Schnittker, and Kaitlyn Marrant judges HOSA – Future Health Professionals contestants included Gabby Phipps, Hunter Meyer and Amanda Rodekohr, Grace Leahy and Candiace Claypole, Kamaile Carroll. These students test online.

The majority of SkillsUSA District Contests were held Thursday, February 12th, at UCM in Warrensburg. Automotive contests were hosted by Career Centers and held on different dates.

The following students participated in their respective contest: Automotive Service Technology: Gage Smith, Maddox Henze, Carter Quick Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair: Cole Davis, Madeline Johnson, Paul Gilbert Automotive Refinishing Technology: Allee Morrison Information Technology Services: Parker Hicklin State Qualifier, Cogan Clark, Preston Register Job Skill Demonstration A: Jaxson Hubbard – State Qualifier, Parker Hicklin, Kyden Fender Extemporaneous Speaking: Brenden Wrisinger Prepared Speech: Jacob Tapp – State Qualifier Carpentry: Caden Paige, Zach Poyner, Brodie Barker, Gabe Murry, Kay Dugger Straight to State Collision Damage Appraisal Contest: Brayden Elliot – Defending National Champion Help us wish all SkillsUSA qualifiers the best of luck on April 9th and 10th when they travel to Jefferson City to compete at the State Leadership & Skills Contest.

FFA District Contests are happening now. Watch our social media channels for updates. Chapter members and potential state qualifiers will attend the 2026 Missouri FFA Convention on April 15-17 in Columbia, MO.

Projected Enrollment Enrollment for 20262027 school year is anticipated to be 258 students. We received 185 applications and filled 145 vacancies. Accepted Student Open House

Lex La-Ray Technical Center staff and students will host an Open House for students accepted to our programs for the 2026–2027 school year on April 29, 2026 starting at 5:00pm. This event is for students and families to get an overview of policies and procedures, tour the building, visit their program, meet the instructors, and gather important information for the upcoming year. We encourage both new and returning students to attend.