Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Nine FCPS students have qualified for the SkillsUSA national competition in late June in Kansas City, Mo., where teens will vie in more than 80 technical and leadership areas.

Eastside and Southside technical centers sent three dozen students to the state competition in Louisville during the first week of April. These first-place winners advance to the next level:

From Eastside:

• Kristen Arvin, job skills demonstration open;
• Julio Alfaro and Devan Farley, community service;
• Thomas Bryant, power equipment;
• Nicolas Davenport, auto refinishing;
• Freddie Hallock, computer programming;
• Freddie Weckerling and Taylor Ballard, 3D animation and visualization.

From Southside:

• Mitch McKinley, electronics technology.

Eastside had 27 students in the state competition. Other medalists included:

• Tyler Brown, 2^nd, criminal justice;
• Amber Dufour, 2^nd, creed;
• Nathan Ramsey, 2^nd, technical computer applications;
• Casey Rodman, 2^nd, power equipment;
• Betty Slone, 2^nd, job placement readiness;
• Freddie Weckerling, 2^nd, related technical math;
• Todd Finch, 3^rd, diesel;
• Freddie Hallock, 3^rd, spelling;
• Kyle Raley and Randy White, 3^rd, Web design.

Southside had nine students compete in Louisville. Other medalists were:

• Dustin Wright, 2^nd, electronics technology;
• Devontae Washington, 3^rd, culinary arts;
• Jordan West, 3^rd, food and beverage.

SkillsUSA is a leadership organization for career and technical students.