WCC students bring home the gold from SkillsUSA National Competition

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1 News for Immediate Release June 29, 2017 Contact: Amber Herman, WCC PIO or WCC students bring home the gold from SkillsUSA National Competition WILKESBORO, N.C. Wilkes Community College SkillsUSA students brought home eight gold and six bronze medals from the 53rd Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Louisville, Ky., on June 19-23, WCC was represented by 40 student competitors and 21 advisors. The students qualified to participate in the national competition because they won first place gold medals in the April statewide competition in Greensboro. More than 15,000 students, teachers, education leaders and representatives from 600 national corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions participated in the event. The highlight event was the annual SkillsUSA Championships held on June 21 and 22 with 100 hands-on skill and leadership competitions. Among the more than 6,000 student competitors, 34 of the 40 WCC students showcasing their knowledge and skills placed in the top 15 positions, 29 in the top ten and 24 in the top five. The opening ceremony, co-sponsored by Snap-On Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales, was held on Tuesday, June 20. The keynote speaker Nick Tokman, a cast member from the show Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. Tokman was going to college and working three part-time jobs when he realized he wanted to do something different. Tokman moved to Alaska and worked various fishing jobs until eventually landing his dream gig: a crew spot on Deadliest Catch. He was known as Sunshine on the program for his always-positive attitude. In his keynote address, Tokman told his story of going from college to staying in a homeless shelter to spending four seasons as a fisherman on the Emmy-winning show, risking his life daily doing one of the world s most dangerous jobs. He left the show and passed on a six-figure-income corporate job offer to pursue a new dream as a motivational speaker. Tokman s message was focused on helping students to stay motivated in school, to be confident, less influenced by peer pressure, to have a more accepting attitude toward others and to find clarity as to what they want to do in life. He said that he has come to the conclusion that there is something intrinsically inside each person that compels them to do what they want to do. That is their gift to share with the world. By listening to that voice, people become who they are meant to be and can begin to change the world around them.

2 A trip to the SkillsUSA national competition is life-changing for students. They are recognized as the best of the very best students in the country they are champions. This success doesn t come easily; it requires vigorous hard work and dedication, said Hardin Kennedy, WCC SkillsUSA advisor and Transportation Technology Program chairperson. Beyond the competitions, students enjoy networking opportunities that can help set the path for their postcollege careers. In fact, hundreds of the country s leading employers attend the national conference to scout for new talent to join their companies. With our college s consistent presence and continued top ranking at the national conferences, Wilkes Community College is recognized as a national leader in post-secondary and secondary education. And, this trip marked the first time we had middle school competitors on our team; North Wilkes Middle School s Engineering Challenge Team placed seventh in the nation. Wilkes Community College and Career & College Promise (CCP) students competed and finished in the following areas: Career Pathways-Natural Resources-Agriculture-Food Team: Sarah Church, Mahaila Ellis, Archie Staley 1st place (Gold); Quiz Bowl Team: Savannah Collins, Jacob Francisco, Benjamin Johnson, Amber Lausch, Tiffany Lytton 1st place (Gold); Health Knowledge Bowl Team: Sarah Brown, Ashley Hobson, Hannah Johnson, Sarah Shepherd 3rd place (Bronze); Pin Design: Ashley Bauguess 3rd place (Bronze); Practical Nursing: Lucy Frausto 3rd place (Bronze); Interactive Application & Video Game Development Team: Noah Childress, Isaac Griffin 4th place; Promotional Bulletin Board: Cheyenne Bell, Brandi Pritchett, Sylvia Rubio- Reyes 4th place; Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Team: Nash Helms, Michael Laprad 4th place; Medical Math: Shanna Holt 4th place; Action Skills: Barry Barnes 5th place; Nurse Assisting: Teresa Muñoz-Maya 5th place; First Aid/CPR: William Jake Shore 6th place; Additive Manufacturing Team: Joshua Branch, James Garris 7th place; Carpentry: Dylan Bauguess 7th place; Marine Service Technology: Tyler Smith 9th place; Power Equipment Technology: Caleb Younce 13th place; Welding Fabrication Team: Avery Blevins (CCP), Micah Lassiter (CCP), Lance Royal (CCP) 15th place; College Diesel Equipment Technology: James Jones 15th place; CNC Milling Specialist: Aaron Haymore (CCP) 22nd place; CNC Turning Specialist: Dustin Swaim (CCP) 24th place; High School Diesel Equipment Technology: Jose Ramirez (CCP) 22nd place; Motorcycle Service Technology: Joshua Call (CCP) 22nd place; Automotive Refinishing Technology: Tyler Reavis (CCP) 34th place; Welding: Williams Yates (CCP) 42nd place. The Skill Point Certificate, introduced at the 2013 competition, recognizes SkillsUSA members achieving national industry-defined scores at the national competition. The award is the pinnacle achievement in the Work Force Ready System for SkillsUSA students. To earn the certificate, students participated in authentic assessments demonstrating in real time their knowledge and hands-on abilities. WCC students received Skill Point certificates in 21 competitions. Not everyone can come home with a gold, silver or bronze medal. However, the Skill Point Certificate proves that a student has mastered his or her trade and is ready to enter and succeed in industry, explains Kennedy.

3 Three students received scholarship awards at the national conference. Aaron Haymore and Dustin Swaim each received a $1,000 scholarship from Gene Haas Foundation. Dylan Bauguess received a $1,000 scholarship from Southeastern Construction Owners and Associates Roundtable (SCOAR). And, all Students received a $50 gift card from Lowe's Home Improvement, sponsor of the Build-A-Table Community Event and the Awards Ceremony and co-sponsor of the Community Service Events. Community support is vital to the WCC faculty and staff; Adams Oldcastle; Advance Auto Parts; AutoZone Auto Parts; Blevins Building Supply; Blue Ridge Tractor; Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club; Richard Canter; Carolina West Wireless; Duke Energy; Colors Edge; Empire Chevrolet; Empire Chrysler Dodge Jeep; Tammy and Cam Finley; Flowers Auto Parts; Hughes Supply; Impact Collision; Arnold and Becky Lakey; Lowe s Home Improvement Warehouse; John and Freida Matthews; Millers Creek Fire Department; North Carolina Association of Electrical Contractors; O Reilly s Auto Parts; Pardue s Welding; Bobby and Susan Phillips; Pine Hall Brick; Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors of N.C. Inc.; The Record of Wilkes; Kathie Rider; Sylvia D. Robinson; Snap-on; Specialty Fabricators; Statesville Brick; The Stone Foundation; William Stroud; The Welding Company; B. and Martha Townes; Tractor Supply Company of Wilkesboro; Nena Walker; Lisa Warren; Western Carolina Electric; Weyerhaeuser; Wilkes County Sheriff s Department; Wilkesboro Fire Department; Wilkes-Yadkin Homebuilders Association; Window World Inc.; and Yadkin Well Company Inc. Contributions to the WCC Annual Fund-SkillsUSA may be sent to WCC Foundation/Annual Fund, P.O. Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC, Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC continues to build on a strong history of meeting the educational needs and cultural interests of our students, community and workforce. WCC prepares learners for success in a dynamic world. About WCC Skills USA Club SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. It helps each student excel. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. While the highlights of the club s year are the state and national competitions, students work year-round to prepare for competition and to promote SkillsUSA. Most recently, WCC hosted the Region 7 SkillsUSA Conference and Career Showcase on February 28, This annual educational and professional development activity is open to all SkillsUSA members and advisors, high school Career and Technical Education students, business and industry partners and educational partners. The event included SkillsUSA competitions and the opportunity for high school students to explore the many career training opportunities available to them at WCC. In 2005, Transportation Technology Chairperson Hardin Kennedy organized and developed the Wilkes Community College SkillsUSA Club. In 2006, Wilkes Community College was

4 represented at the state and national competition in its first year of competing with 12 students from various engineering technology disciplines. Each year, participation in the SkillsUSA Club grows as students and faculty learn the benefits of being involved. This active club operates with significant support from local individuals, businesses and organizations. The assistance helps to offset the cost of hosting events and traveling to competitions. For more information about supporting SkillsUSA, contact Hardin Kennedy at or PHOTOS: High-resolution image files for the following photos may be downloaded at rt8a?dl=0. Caption: The WCC SkillsUSA team that traveled to national competition in Louisville, Ky., included 40 students and 21 advisors and was led by SkillsUSA Advisor Hardin Kennedy (kneeling in front) and Michael Wingler. Photo by Michael Wingler. Caption: Career Pathways-Natural Resources-Agriculture-Food Team, Sarah Church (left), Archie Staley (center), and Mahaila Ellis, placed first in the nation, bringing home a gold medal. Photo by Michael Wingler.

5 Caption: Lucy Frausto won a bronze medal for placing third in the Practical Nursing competition. Photo by Michael Wingler. Caption: Amber Arnder (center), lead instructor of Advertising & Graphic Design, had four students place in the top five in the nation. Ashley Bauguess (second from left) won a bronze medal for placing third in the Pin Design competition. Sylvia Rubio-Reyes (left), Brandi Pritchett (second from right) and Cheyenne Bell (right) placed fourth in the Promotional Bulletin Board competition. Caption: (Left to right) Dakota Garris and Joshua Branch placed seventh in the Additive Manufacturing Technology team competition. Photo by Michael Wingler.

6 Caption: Dylan Bauguess placed seventh in the carpentry competition. Photo by Michael Wingler. Caption: William Yates, a Career & College Promise student, competes in the welding competition. Photo by Michael Wingler. # # #