Numerous Northwest Tech students competed in the state SkillsUSA contest in Wichita, Kansas April 24-26.
SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves technical, skilled and service occupation instructional programs in public high schools, career and technical centers, and two and four year colleges. SkillsUSA helps students discover and grow their career passions. As a nationwide partnership of students, instructors and industry working together, SkillsUSA works to ensure America had a skilled workforce. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety.
Students at Northwest Tech competed in the areas of Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration; Electrical, Communications Technology, Auto Service Technology, Diesel Technology, Carpentry, and Related Technical Math.
First place awards were earned by Allen Collins of Norton, KS, in Cabling, as well as the officers of Northwest Tech’s local SkillsUSA chapter for their Opening and Closing Ceremony presentation. Northwest Tech SkillsUSA officers are as follows: President Tyrone Robinson of Colby, KS; Vice-President Dylan Steele of Tribune, KS; Secretary Jordan Harney of Tribune, KS; Treasurer Kaid Wark of Colby, KS; Historian Tanner Gugler of Ellis, KS; Dustin Kirby of Cimarron, KS; and Juan Miramontes of Sycrause, KS. By placing first at State, Collins and the Northwest Tech SkillsUSA officers qualified for Nationals, scheduled for June 24-28th in Kansas City.
Other State medalists included Katlyn Topliff of Goodland, KS, earning second in Related Technical Math, and Price Demint of Garden City, KS, taking home third in Internetworking.
Medals were only given to the top three places, but several other students from Northwest Tech placed in the top ten in their division and/or competed well:
In Carpentry: Jordan Harney of Tribune, KS; Juan Miramontes of Syracuse, KS; and Derek Frasier of Sharon Springs, KS.
In Electrical: Spencer Smith of Goodland, KS; Luis Montes of Syracuse, KS; Chris Durr of Kit Carson, CO; Clayton Rico of Burlington, CO.
In HVAC/R: Brian Miller of Goble, MI; Curtiss Chambless of Scott City, KS; Scott Boyd of Fowler, KS.
In Related Technical Math: Andres Menezes of Fortaleza, CE; Dustin Delgado of Bennett, CO; Mikail Freeman of Goodland, KS; Rene Hernandez of Ulysses, KS; Alex Rangel of Kanorado, KS; Katlyn Topliff of Goodland, KS.
In Internetworking: Price DeMint of Garden City, KS.
In Cabling: Kelby Sanchez of Goodland, KS; Allen Collins of Norton, KS.
In Automotive Technology: Jacob Dipert of Sharon Springs, KS; Jeffrey Neterval of Goodland, KS.
In Diesel Technology: Dyllan Dennis of Lamar, CO; David Stephens of St Francis, KS; Austin Tammen of Hays, KS; Paden Ellis of Colby, KS; Tanner Gugler of Ellis, KS; Kalib Hinkle of Brewster, KS; Alexis Juarez of Burlington, CO; Kyle Kleinknecht of Cozad, NE; Jordan Nemechek of Tribune, KS; Nick Thomas of Goodland, KS; Kaid Wark of Colby, KS.