Nine UCC students receive awards, two firsts, at SkillsUSA competition
Nine UCC students receive awards, two firsts, at SkillsUSA competition
Students of Umpqua Community College’s automotive program came away with several top awards – including two first place awards – at the 2011 SkillsUSA state competition.
More than 300 students from Linn-Benton, Lane, Umpqua and Portland community colleges and Estacada and Aloha high schools competed April 9 at the Rock Creek Campus of Portland Community College. Community college students competed against college students; high schools against high school students.
The UCC students were accompanied by automotive technology instructor Kevin Mathweg and welding instructor Ian Fisher.
Students competed in several different skills categories pertaining to diesel vehicles, including engines, transmissions, electrical, hydraulics, precision-machining, shop skills, failure analysis and interview skills. One winner from both the high school and post-secondary level will be chosen to go on to the SkillsUSA national competition, held in June in Kansas City, MO.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that provides services for high school and college students, who are preparing for careers in trade, technical, health and skilled service occupations.
This year, UCC’s technical education programs were well represented by eleven students competing in five separate events. Overall, nine medallions were awarded to our students with two students – Virgil Pippen and Jack Essary – winning their events and qualifying for the National competition June 19-24 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The results for Umpqua Community College are below:
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY
1st - Virgil Pippen
2nd - James Pope
3rd - Jack Allen
POWER EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY
2nd - Runningwolf Condo
3rd - Colby Allen
DIESEL EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY
7th - Chris Moore
9th - Torry Piechowski
WELDING - General
1st - Jack Essary
WELDING - Fabrication Team
2nd - Joshua Walters, Dan Hendrix, and Michael Livermore
