First Female To Win Masonry Competition Told She Can't Compete Nationally

I don't think this competition is on the level. Story out of Scioto County, Ohio:

Shania Clifford, a 17-year-old from Scioto County, became the first female to win a gold medal in the SkillsUSA Ohio masonry competition in late April.

But in mid-May, Clifford found out she would not be attending the next level of the competition, a national leadership and skills conference held in Louisville, Kentucky.

And she found out via Facebook.

Clifford, who had just completed her junior year at the Scioto County Career Technical Center, said she saw a Facebook posting by the male competitor who originally placed third in the competition announcing that he would be competing at the national level next week.

Judges in the masonry program, a field usually dominated by men, originally awarded Clifford first place by a whopping 72 points.

Stan Jennings, superintendent of the Scioto County Career Technical Center, was notified by SkillsUSA Ohio that Clifford would no longer be competing. A vague explanation was given: “The scores were inappropriately put in.”

The state group said Clifford is allowed to keep the gold medal she won in Columbus.

“If they allow me to keep my award, they should allow me to keep my place,” she said. Cont.

Story from - The Columbus Dispatch
Image from - Torange
cc 4.0

Update - Thanks to the internet she has now been invited.