SCTCC students held their record from last year and will be sending six champions to nationals. This time, half of them are PSEO students.
This past weekend, SCTCC students were able show off their skills at the annual Minnesota SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference. Auto Body Collision Technology, Automotive Service Technician, Electrical Construction, Heating Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Medium / Heavy Truck students all attended the conference after on-campus competitions determined who would attend.
The state competition provides 57 trade, technical, and leadership contests supported and evaluated by business and industry leaders.
Electrical Construction Technology
In Electrical Construction Wiring, Kaden George, Josh Mohr, and Nathan Wagner competed. George, from Delano, placed first and Mohr, from Waite Park, third.
In High School Electrical Construction Wiring, William Kuhn, from Monticello, and Joe Prom, from Foley, competed, and they placed first and second, respectively.
In the Industrial Motor Control competition, Zech Anderson, Chris Erickson, and Lyle Nelson took part. Anderson, from Princeton, placed first and Nelson, from Braham, second.
“I always enjoy watching our students during this competition,” said Electrical instructor Craig Fischer. “Not only is it timed but it also must work. These students pour 110% into their projects, overcoming pressure, stress, timelines, frustrations and yet produce a product that any electrical shop would be proud of.”
Auto Body Collision Technology
Kolby Wagner and Peyton Rudolph competed in both Automotive Refinishing Technology and Collision Repair Technology competitions. Lucas Kunstleben competed in the same competitions at the high school level.
Kunstleben, from Brainerd, placed first in Automotive Refinishing and second in Collision Repair.
Automotive Service Technician
LJ Olsen and Tyler Stewart competed at the school Automotive Service Technology competition, and Mohamed Abdi competed at the high school level.
Olsen, from Foley, placed first.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
Blake Niska competed in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration skill and Cade Barringer competed at the high school level.
Barringer, from Becker, placed first, and Niska, from Cokato, placed third.
Medium/Heavy Truck Technician
Brent Boos, Jacob Fieke, Brian Keppers, Xander Naner, Nicholas Pederson, and Nicholas Sakry from Medium/Heavy Truck all competed at the conference against more than 50 students across the state. Sakry placed in the top five – the Diesel Equipment Technology skills test is the largest of the competitions.
“The success of our students in competitive arenas like these are a real testament to the quality of our faculty. These students aren’t succeeding in a vacuum – they are fully prepared, both technically and emotionally, as a result of superior coaching from our faculty, said Steve Hoemberg, Dean of Skilled Trades & Industry. “SkillsUSA is a great opportunity for students to engage in the high stakes nature of the important work they will soon be doing full time out in the real world.”
First-place winners from the state competition have the opportunity to attend and compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference June 23-27 in Louisville, Ky.
SkillsUSA is national organization serving high school, college, and middle school students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled services. The organization serves more than 413,000 students and instructors annually.
Tyler Kunstleben and Leanne Pearson from Auto Body with three students: Lucas Kunstleben, Peyton Rudolph, and Kolby Wagener.
Zech Anderson gets a gold for Industrial Motor Control (electrical) and Lyle Nelson gets the silver.
William Kuhn and Joe Prom from electrical with first and third, respectively.
Medium/Heavy Truck students at the local competition.