UPDATE: Local students excel in MSTC’s first Regional SkillsUSA competition
By Patrick Lynn
Mid-State Technical College hosted its largest SkillsUSA competition to date on Friday, Jan. 20.
A total of 83 students from area schools gathered on the Wisconsin Rapids campus for Mid-State’s first Regional SkillsUSA Competition.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The nonprofit national education association serves middle school, high school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.
It’s recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor as a successful model of employer-driven workforce development.
Middle and high school students from Antigo, Golda Meir, Marshall, Marshfield, Merrill, Oregon, Palmyra-Eagle, Stevens Point, Wausau East and West, Wittenberg-Birnamwood, and Wisconsin Rapids competed in 17 different career and technical education events, including job interviewing, prepared speech, related technical math, welding, precision machining, carpentry, and more.
“Mid-State is proud to host our first Regional SkillsUSA Competition and to be a part of this invaluable experience for the competitors and event volunteers,” said Deb Stencil, Mid-State vice president of academics. “We value our partnership with SkillsUSA and look forward to these competitions and our own students competing at the state and national levels this year.”
Students who placed in the regional competition will advance to the State Leadership & Skills Conference (SLSC) that will be hosted in Madison this April. Winners are listed below:
Automotive Service Technology
Bronze: Riley Arndorfer, Marshfield
Silver: Joshua Lindow, Marshfield
Gold: Jackson Riddle, Stevens Point
Carpentry
Bronze: Theodore Narel, Lincoln
Silver: Kyler Breu, Marshfield
Gold: Joshua Altman, Marshfield
CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer
Bronze: Henry Hilbelink, Marshfield
Silver: Austin Perkins, Lincoln
Gold: Caleb Kureck, Stevens Point
C02 Dragster
Silver: Noah Moore, Merrill
Gold: Brycen Bartlett, Oregon
Diesel Equipment Technology
Silver: Mason DeBroux, Wausau West
Gold: Levi Pernsteiner, Wausau West
Electrical Construction Wiring
Gold: Dominic Vanier, Stevens Point
Extemporaneous Speaking
Silver: Julie Shaw, Marshfield
Gold: Kendra Ohde, Wausau East
Facilithon
Bronze: Kendra Ohde, Wausau East
Silver: Brooke Ohde, Wausau East
Gold: Ryan Forbes, Madison Memorial
First Aid/CPR
Gold: Alexander Brown, Merrill
Job Interview
Bronze: Keagan O’Brien, Marshall
Silver: Cameron Thomae, Wausau East
Gold: Brooke Ohde, Wausau East
Precision Machining Technology
Bronze: Ajay Bacholl, Marshfield
Silver: Samuel Schumacher, Wausau West
Gold: Ryan Will, Marshfield
Related Technical Math
Bronze: Isabella Ikobe, Marshfield
Silver: Jonathan Krueger, Oregon
Gold: Soren Lesperance, Oregon
Team Engineering Challenge
Bronze: Lincoln
Silver: Marshfield
Gold: Merrill
Technical Drafting
Bronze: Aaron Krueger, Lincoln
Silver: Brycen Bartlett, Oregon
Gold: Jonathan Krueger, Oregon
Welding
Bronze: Aaron Pickar, Wausau West
Silver: Ian Vandre, Marshfield
Gold: Izaak Clendenning, Lincoln
Welding Sculpture
Bronze: Grace Collingsworth, Merrill
Silver: Cade Klosinski, Wausau West
Gold: Trina Raflik, Stevens Point
Mid-State has an established SkillsUSA club and has had students compete at the national level for the last eight consecutive years. Learn more about Mid-State’s clubs and organizations at mstc.edu/student-life/clubs-and-organizations.