When SCTCC students head to the SkillsUSA Minnesota competition, they mean business. And this year, business was good.
After competing on campus to determine who will attend the state Leadership & Skills Conference, representatives from Auto Body Collision Technology, Automotive Service Technician, Electrical Construction, Heating Air Conditioning Refrigeration, and Medium/Heavy Truck competed in their respective contests in early April.
Auto Body Collision Technology swept first place in four skills, two college and high school Tayden Christians, St. Joseph, placed first in college-level refinishing. Spencer Doran, St. Michael, placed first in college-level collision repair. Troy Pfiefer, Buffalo, placed first in both high-school level refinishing and collision repair.
Automotive Service Technician students nabbed a second and third place: Cheyenne Wuebkers, Freeport, placed second and Rylan Groth, Sartell, placed third.
Electrical Construction students placed first in two skills categories. Jakob Felger, Mora, placed first in industrial motor control. Ian Wilson, Dassel, placed first in electrical construction wiring.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration students placed second and third at the high school level: Cade Barringer, Becker, placed second and Matthew Szucs, Milaca, placed third.
Medium/Heavy Truck student clinched a first and second place. Nick Sakry, Sartell, placed first. Garrett Kostreba, Holdingford, placed second.
The first-place winners have the opportunity to compete at the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, held June 24-28. The event brings together more than 16,000 students, instructors, industry partners, and government officials, and more than 6,000 state champions compete for national gold, silver, and bronze medals in 115 competitions.
This year, Auto Body will be able to send Christians, Doran, and Pfeifer; Electrical will be able to send Felger and Wilson; and Medium/Heavy Truck will be able to send Sakry, for a total of six SCTCC representatives in seven skills at the SkillsUSA national conference and championships.
This is the most students that have been eligible to represent SCTCC at the national conference in ten years.
SkillsUSA helps students reach their potential by partnering them with teachers and industry to ensure the US has a skilled workforce in the future.