WVHS News
WVHS SkillsUSA ET Team takes 3rd in the Nation
Reported by steve_skorup@ipsd.org on 7/1/12
Waubonsie Valley High School’s SkillsUSA Engineering Technology team consisting of Sean Sarkauskas, Zach Holland, and Jeremy Smith has placed 3rd in the nation the SkillsUSA National Championships competition in Engineering Technology/Design. The SkillsUSA Championships, held in Kansas City, Mo., took place June 23-27, 2012, as part of the SkillsUSA 48th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a showcase of career and technical education students. During the week, more than 5,600 outstanding career and technical education students—all state contest winners competed hands-on in 94 different trade, technical and leadership fields.
“I am very proud of their accomplishments,” said Steve Skorup, advisor at WVHS. “they and the other students that participated in the Engineering Technology competition are true champions in their dedication to excellence in their career area and their career skills. The team was aided in their preparation for the national contest by engineers and advisors from local design and manufacturing firms, including Gene DiMonte of the DiMonte Group, Steve McKee and Ralph Schultz of Laser Technologies, and Gordon and Connie Hankins of TOT tricycle project.
During the national competition, the team and other teams worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations like engineering, electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. All contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry. Engineering Technology consists of a team of three students demonstrating their ability to design an innovative engineering project and present those ideas along with a display and live model. During the presentation, students are judged on their performance as a professional team, presentation of their project to a panel of judges from the engineering field, their storyboard presentation model, and the overall effect of the presentation. The WVHS team presented their new design for handle bars for the TOT tricycle which allows children with disabilities to exercise and build muscle strength while having fun riding the tricycle.
Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trade and/or scholarships to further their careers and education. The SkillsUSA Championships are for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA. In addition, high scorers in the contests received Skill Point Certificates. The Skill Point Certificate was awarded in 86 occupational and leadership areas to students who achieved a high score defined by industry. The same industry leaders who defined the competencies for the Championships determined a “cut score” that indicates excellence for students entering technical fields or leadership. Most cut scores range between 70 and 80 percent, and contestants who reach that level earn a Skill Point certificate. Students can use their certificates to document achievement and to show potential employers as indicators of proficiency. The WVHS team was awarded their Skill Point Certificates.
SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. SkillsUSA has more than 300,000 students and instructors as members.
For more information or to view the award ceremony, visit www.SkillsUSA.org.
WVHS ET Team is 3rd (pdf)
WVHS ET Team is 3rd (jpg)
WVHS ET Team is 3rd (jpg)
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