NCK Tech
North Central Kansas Technical College announced Monday that two students were awarded National Championship medals during the 50th annual Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held June 23 to 27 in Kansas City, Mo.
Curtis Anderson, Burr Oak, a 2014 graduate of the NCK Tech Beloit campus welding program, achieved first place in the welding competition, and Cris Hayes, Clay Center, a 2014 graduate of the Information Technology program, placed first in the Computer Maintenance competition.
The NCK Tech Welding Fabrication Team earned a Silver Medal in the Welding Fabrication team competition.
Nine students from NCK Tech attended conference, which provided an opportunity for career and technical education students to showcase their skills and connect with business and industry leaders and employers.
The conference attracted approximately 15,000 students, teachers, educational leaders, labor union and industry representatives from across the nation. More than 6,000 outstanding career and technical education students – all state contest winners – competed in 99 different trade, technical and leadership fields. In the competition, students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations like electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry.
NCK Tech students competed in six competitive areas; five students earned a place within the top 10 in their respective competitions. Competitive areas, NCK Tech student (hometown) placement are as follows:
Welding
Curtis Anderson, Burr Oak, 1st place
Computer Maintenance
Cris Hayes, Clay Center, 1st place
Welding Fabrication
Team, 2nd place — Joseph Pfeifer, Hays; Jacob Arnold, Bennington; and Joel Hayes, Rose Hill
Electronics Technology
Matthew Gamble, Scott City, 12th place
Joseph Pfeifer, Jacob Arnold, Joel Hayes
Telecommunications and Cabling
John Haist, Miltonvale, 12th place
Industrial Motor Controls
Derek Legleiter, Hays, 16th place
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Chris Hadsall, Maple Hill, 20th place