Victoria students hope to build on SkillsUSA state win at nationals

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Three Victoria High school students are headed to the National SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City next month after winning the state competition in April.

Pictured left to right: Senior Trenton Klaus, Senior Nathan Kuhn, Junior Bryan Dome — Pictured, from left, Victoria senior Trenton Klaus, senior Nathan Kuhn and junior Bryan Dome.

Seniors Trenton Klaus, Nathan Kuhn and Junior Bryan Dome qualified for the national competition after winning the Kansas State Welding Fabrication competition in April.

Bruce Engel, Victoria Junior/Senior High School trade and industry instructor and SkillsUSA instructor said this year was the first time the Victoria SkillsUSA group had been invited to attend the Welding Fabrication Team Competition in Hutchinson at Hutchinson Community College. In normal years, they compete at the individual competition in Wichita.

Engel said the three-member team went into the competition not knowing where they were going to build. They were given plans and materials and had 4 1/2 hours to complete the project. The group’s project was a welding table.

For the national competition, Engel said, the team already knows what it will be building — a garden trailer. Participants are given a list of materials and features the project must contain, and the group must create their own plans from that and build the project at the competition in Kansas City.

The national competition will be June 25 and 26 at the Kansas City Convention Center.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for teachers and high school and college students who are working toward careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.