Several Grundy Area Vocational Center students recently qualified for the state level of competition in the Skillls USA competition.
Skills USA is a national nonprofit partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. It serves teachers and high school and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.
The Illinois Association of Skills USA is a state association affiliated with National Skills USA. Illinois was one of the founding states of the national organization in 1965, and has approximately 3200 members in over 125 chapters. Membership provides opportunity to participate in region activities, state leadership conferences, use of professional development curriculum and competition in the state Skills USA championships, which are based on technical standards set up by business and industry.
Students must take a written examination based on their subject area, i.e. automotive technology, and score in the top 20 of the state to qualify for state competition. State competition consists of performance based tests in the students subject area. State will be held April 26 27, and 28.
GAVC state qualifiers, with their subject and high school, include Kristin Stump, Computer Applications, Morris; Jeffrey Galang, Computer Applications, Morris; Jacob Lagerstrom, Automotive Technology, Minooka; John Kren, Automotive Technology, Morris; James Gretencord, Building Trades, Morris; Adam Skelton, Computer Maintenance Technology, Morris; Nick Garrett, Computer Maintenance Technology, Morris; Brian Bernier, Computer Maintenance Technology, Morris; Justin Butler, Criminal Justice, Minooka; Alaina Zavala, Criminal Justice, Wilmington; Chaz Mcginnis, Fire Science, Minooka; Jordan Ullrich, Fire Science, Coal City; Sara Belak, Early Childhood Education, Morris; Taylor Hendricks, Early Childhood Education, Morris; Jennifer Sidy, Early Childhood Education, Morris; Ben Crawford, Welding, Coal City; Evan Carter, Welding, Coal City; Dylan Brandt, Welding, Morris; Anthony Garrett, Welding, GSW; Landon Stiles, Welding, Minooka; Tyler Yard, Welding, Morris; Joshua Kirchner, Welding, Coal City; Zach Sackman, Welding, Minooka; Cody Kodat, Welding, Morris; Corey Bosman, Welding, Minooka; Jamie Grove, Welding, Coal City; Michael Bourque, Welding, Minooka; Vaughn Reed, Welding, GSW; Evan Burch, Welding, Morris; Kaidan Hibler, Welding, GSW; Jake Ragan, Welding, Minooka; Nick Lerma, Welding, Morris.
Welding competition
EAST PEORIA — Fifty-four competitors from 13 high schools competed at the annual High School Welding Competition presented by Midwest Technical Institute, East Peoria on March 23.
Students were given several different raw pieces of metal and a blue print. They were then asked to produce the project from the blue print using their skills in Arc, MIG and TIG welding. Winners were determined by their competency in written exam, project assembly and accuracy and overall quality of their welds.
Place winners from GAVC in Division A were Ragan (first place, $500 cash prize); Brandt (third place, $100 cash prize); Burch (fourth place, medal); Josh Lindmark (sixth place, medal); and Bosman (ninth place, medal).
