Regional puts SkillsUSA members to the test
Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, March 07, 2011
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In the culinary arts contest, one thing the judges note is attention to sanitation. They also rate the students' knife skills, presentation and the taste of their dish.
More than 250 students pitted their technical and leadership abilities in the annual SkillsUSA North Central Region competition. They gathered at Bluegrass Community & Technical College and at Southside and Eastside technical centers to compete in dozens of categories.
Contests ranged from 3-D printing, broadcast news production and wood sculpture to cabinetmaking, residential wiring and crime scene investigation. Students also squared off in such real-world areas as extemporaneous speaking and job interview skills.
By the numbers:
- 10: participating technical centers in the North Central Region
- 266: total high school students in the March 4 contests
- 48: Southside Tech competitors
- 54: Eastside Tech competitors
Most of the contests ran simultaneously. Here’s a snapshot of a few activities.
Culinary arts at Southside …
Each student pulled on a white coat, chef’s hat and gloves before diving into the day’s challenge: a plated dish of chicken breast, rice pilaf and carrots. They each were judged on their sanitation, knife skills, presentation and taste.
“When we’re getting ready for a competition, I try to give them a lot of freedom,” said chef Jim Olert, who trains students in operating commercial kitchen equipment and teaches them various cooking techniques.
Branham Thomas, a junior from Scott County High School, was among Southside Tech’s half-dozen competitors. Olert’s guidance has helped confirm his career plans.
“He demos a lot of the stuff, and then we go in the kitchen and try it ourselves,” Branham said.
Collision repair at Eastside …
Students actually started a day earlier to make sure they had time to finish this contest, which involved fixing dents in car panels and demonstrating three types of welds.
“We’re looking for how well the dent was hammered out. Sometimes there will be little holes or scratches where they didn’t get it all done,” said instructor Tim Trusty, who noted how the judges look for imperfections in the body filler.
Eduardo Avila, a senior at Lafayette High School, gave it his best effort.
“This is my first year in SkillsUSA, so I was kind of nervous about it,” he said. “But the class helps us get ready for it.”
First aid/CPR at Southside …
A pair of classmates from Bryan Station High School went head to head – one who wants to be a nurse, the other a pediatric surgeon.
After a written test, the judges presented various scenarios and the students had to react accordingly. For instance, what’s the response when a middle-aged woman is choking in a restaurant? When a child lacerates his arm on metal bleachers? When a man collapses by his car in the parking lot?
“There’s a certified way you do CPR, so we make sure they follow that pattern,” said firefighter John Davis, who judged this contest along with a respiratory therapist.
William Champs, a senior, praised Southside’s medical sciences program. “It lets you get your feet wet in the medical field and see if it feels right for you,” he said.
Diesel equipment technology at Eastside …
Students rotated through five areas with a 15-minute window per stop for engine, electrical, general shop, power train and brakes troubleshooting.
“At each station, they get points for adjustments and different tasks,” said instructor Jay O’Hair.
Jeremiah Carter, a junior at Tates Creek High School, was a little worried about how he placed. But as the defending state champion in the related power equipment category, Jeremiah came in with plenty of confidence. He even shared some tips, saying, “I helped a few students out on practice days.”
O’Hair boasts 100 percent membership in SkillsUSA among his classes.
“It teaches them discipline, about competition and how to have an edge when it comes to hunting jobs,” he said.
Resources:
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working to ensure that the United States has a skilled workforce. The national organization serves high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service arenas, including health occupations.