Leilani Bell | Lincoln Public Schools
Leilani Bell | Lincoln Public Schools
A high school senior who earned top achievements in a welding competition is receiving accolades from state Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha).
Leilani Bell, a student at The Career Academy, placed first in the district-level of a National FFA (formerly called Future Farmers of America) Organization welding competition where she scored 198 out of 200 in written and welding portions, Lincoln Public Schools said in a press release. Bell, whose home school is Lincoln High School, missed one question on the written test and got a perfect score on welding.
“But not just winning, setting records....Congratulations! A great career story with a totally different path than expected,” Swanson posted on Facebook.
A joint venture between Lincoln Public Schools and Southeast Community College, The Career Academy is a career-readiness program that offers 16 different career pathways, TCA’s Facebook page said.
Bell began a health science pathway her junior year, eventually switching to the welding pathway, Lincoln Public Schools said.
“I never expected this pathway, but I love it,” Bell said, according to Lincoln Public Schools.
Bell likes the challenge of welding, she said.
“I can be stuck on a weld for up to two weeks but I’m still having fun because I’m like, 'Oh, I’ll get it eventually,'” Bell said.
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