GCTC students do well at skills competition

Students from Oklahoma high school and college technical education programs won the nation’s highest awards at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, in Kansas City, Mo.
Industry leaders representing more than 1,100 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions recognized the students for their demonstrated excellence in 91 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as robotics, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.
Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. 
Many also received prizes such as tools of their trades and, in some cases, scholarships to further their careers and education. The SkillsUSA Championships is for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA.
The following are winners, and Skill Point Certificate recipients, hailing from local schools:
Gordon Cooper Technology Center’s “Team C,” consisting of Brett McClelland and Charles Deleware, was awarded the college/postsecondary gold medal in Chapter Display.
GCTC’s “Team AE,” consisting of Austin Gimondo, Dare Obasade, Dillon Smith, Jon Yarbrough, Ryan  Heath and Danny Marshall, was awarded the high school bronze medal in Quiz Bowl.
Shawnee resident Aimee E Enslinger, a student at GCTC, was awarded the college/postsecondary silver medal in Aviation Maintenance Technology.
GCTC’s “Team G,” consisting of Clint Manion, Keith Jones, Max Abrego and John Hansen, was awarded the college/postsecondary silver medal in TeamWorks.
“Over 5,400 students from every state in the nation came to compete in the SkillsUSA Championships,” said SkillsUSA executive director Tim Lawrence.
“This is the SkillsUSA partnership at its best. Students, instructors and industries are working together to ensure America has a skilled work force and every student excels.”
“These students prove that career and technical education expands opportunities.”
According to Lawrence, recent survey data shows that 75 percent of these students will go on to higher education.
Included in that number are 40 percent who will be attending college and working at the same time. Of those graduating from school, 76 percent plan to work in the field for which they’ve trained.
“They’re the employees industry wants to hire and promote,” Lawrence said.
Industry support of the SkillsUSA Championships is valued at more than $35 million in donated time, equipment, cash and material. All contests are run and judged by industry experts using industry standards for employment.
Contests assess hands-on, employability and academic skills. Over 1,100 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.
Top student winners received medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trade and/or scholarships to further their careers and education.
The SkillsUSA Championships is for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA.
For more information about the SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System, visit www.workforcereadysystem.com.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force.
SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 students and instructors annually and has served more than 9.9 million members since its founding in 1965. The organization has more than 17,000 sections and 54 state and territorial associations.