Seven Brooke High School students have a chance to participate in a national competition, but they need some help from the community.

The pupils in Diane Lucero's child development specialist class may advance to the Future Educators Association's National Conference in San Antonio after placing first or second in competitions held at the first FEA state conference in Ripley, W.Va., in September.

The event involved hundreds of West Virginia students interested in careers in teaching and child care in competitions testing their knowledge of the field and its skills.

But the Brooke High School students must raise $900 each for travel expenses by Jan. 10, said Lucero.

She said the students have raised money in various ways, from selling pepperoni rolls to performing odd jobs, and they and other members of the school's FEA chapter will hold a spaghetti dinner from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Bethany College's Benedum Commons.

Tickets can be purchased from any member or by contacting Lucero at 304-527-1410 or dlucero@ access.k12. wv.us.

In light of the nearing deadline, Lucero has sent letters to many local civic groups seeking contributions.

She added the group is open to suggestions for other fundraisers and funding sources.

Lucero said she is very proud of them and five other students who represented the school at the state conference, and she laments that a few doubt they will be able to attend the national event because of lack of money.

The seven are Shawn Stewart, Lauren Utt, Ruth Clampitt, Lauren Wise, Mark Mazzella, Cody Schwertfeger and Lindsay Cervenak.

Clampitt placed first and Schwertfeger second in the impromptu speaking competition of the state event after demonstrating their ability to speak for two to three minutes on an education-related issue not made known to them until shortly before the contest.

Clampitt also placed second in the event's essay competition, which challenged participants to write on a current issue affecting education.

Utt placed first in an event testing their ability to develop effective lesson plans. Utt led children in the high school's pre-school program in a craft inspired by Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," noting the activity's role in honing the children's fine motor skills.

And Stewart, Mazzella, Wise and Cervenak placed second for their entry among public service ads promoting the importance of education.