Oxford High School senior Lindsey Strobel was inducted into The National Vocational Technical Honors Society through the Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
She was the only Oxford High School student to receive the honor.
“It was really exciting when I found out I was able to be in it and everything,” said Strobel. “Colleges look at this and they know what it is. It really is a big deal.”
“This really meant so much to me because I never qualify for this type of thing. In school I was always a 3.0 student so I’ve never gotten to do this before.”
Students are nominated by their teachers based on their grades in their program of study, attendance and work habits.
All nominees must have a B+ or better in their course; have no more than six verified or unverified absences; no more than six tardies; and display good work habits such as leadership, motivation, honesty, responsibility, skilled workmanship and citizenship.
Strobel, 18, a Leonard resident who has attended Oxford schools her whole life, takes visual imaging classes.
The course lasts the entire year and is scheduled for two and a half hours in the morning.
“I’ve kept an “A” in the course all year,” she stated proudly. “It’s worth three class grades so that’s great.”
Some of the projects the would-be graphic designer has created include magazine ads, posters, illustrations for children’s books and web pages.
Strobel said she mainly uses Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Macro-media programs in her work.
“The web page stuff was neat,” she stated. “We’re putting all of our portfolio pieces on our own web page so that when you go for a college interview, you can direct them to your work right on the Internet.”
Strobel said she learned about the class through a friend who was taking similar course work.
“She liked it so much and I liked what I heard, so I got more information,” she explained. “If I would have never taken this class, I would have never learned the skills that I have now from my high school work.”
The Oxford senior added that the best part of the course is all the people.
“It’s really great because it’s not just kids from just one school,” she said. “I’ve met so many new people – it’s kind of like college.”
Strobel plans on attending Macomb Community College for an associate’s degree and then to transfer to a larger university where she will finish with a bachelor’s of art in graphic design.
“I want to become a graphic designer and just be doing what I love no matter how much money,” she added. “I just really want to do what I love.”
In her free time, Strobel works as a waitress at the Roadhouse in Lakeville. She also enjoys boxing for exercise and attending afterschool dances.
“I really enjoy waitressing and meeting all of the people,” said Strobel. “Being away from the school half the day can be tough – you miss out on stuff like the morning announcements or voting for the homecoming court, but it’s all worth it.”
“I would definitely recommend this to anyone.”