Derek Lewis, a Soldotna High School student, poses for a photo with Mike Rowe at a luncheon hosted by mikeroweWORKS, before the national SkillsUSA competition.  Photo &

Derek Lewis, a Soldotna High School student, poses for a photo with Mike Rowe at a luncheon hosted by mikeroweWORKS, before the national SkillsUSA competition. Photo &

Soldotna student receives scholarship

A dirty job may not be in his future, but Soldotna High School student Derek Lewis was able to travel to Louisville, Kentucky thanks to television host Mike Rowe’s foundation mikeroweWORKS.

Lewis was invited to the national SkillsUSA competition, which is a nonprofit aimed at closing the skills gap in the United States through various partnerships between students, instructors and industry leaders.

“The skills gap is not only real, it’s a reflection of what we value,” Rowe said in a release. “To close the gap, we need to change the way the coutry feels about work.”

The mikeroweWORKS foundation works with SkillsUSA to encourage real-world training and lay the groundwork for careers in skilled trades. The foundation offered Lewis a scholarship, which covered travel expenses for him to attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, which took place on June 20 in Kentucky.

“My foundation supports SkillsUSA because it celebrates the kind of skills that are actually in demand,” Rowe said.

Lewis attended the conference with a focus on law enforcement. SkillsUSA also focuses on other areas in career and technical education such as automotive service technology, carpentry and mobile robotics technology.

Kat Sorensen can be reached at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com

More in News

A woman stands with her sign held up during a rally in support of Medicaid and South Peninsula Hospital on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer residents rally in support of South Peninsula Hospital and Medicaid

The community gathered on Wednesday in opposition to health care cuts that threaten rural hospitals.

Hunter Kirby holds up the hatchery king salmon he bagged during the one-day youth fishery on the Ninilchik River on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in Ninilchik, Alaska. Photo by Mike Booz
Ninilchik River closed to sport fishing

The closure is in effect from June 23 through July 15.

Señor Panchos in Soldotna, Alaska, is closed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna restaurant owner remains in ICE custody; federal charges dropped

Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon was accused of being in the country illegally and falsely claiming citizenship on a driver’s license application.

Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough to provide maximum funding for school district

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will receive less money from the state this year than it did last year.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday.
Pools, theaters, libraries in jeopardy as cuts loom

The district issued “notices of non-retention” to all its pool managers, library aides and theater technicians.

A sockeye salmon is pictured in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishing slow on Russian River, improving on Kenai

Northern Kenai fishing report for Tuesday, June 17.

Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point man accepts plea deal for November shootings

Buildings operated by a local health clinic and an addiction recovery nonprofit were targeted.

A demonstrator holds up a sign during the “No Kings” protest on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer hits the streets to say ‘No Kings’

Around 700 gathered locally as part of a nationwide protest.

Brooklyn Coleman, right, staffs The Squeeze Squad lemonade stand during Lemonade Day in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids learn business skills at annual Lemonade Day

Around 40 stands were strewn around Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Sterling for the event.

Most Read