SkillsUSA competition winners headed to state

Published 12:01 am Saturday, December 14, 2019

Close to 30 high schools representing the SkillsUSA Region 1 counties of the area competed in 25 skill-based competitions recently, spread throughout the Walker County Campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College, with the winners, including several area students, headed to the statewide competition in the spring.

“Think of a science fair for technical students mixed with leadership skills, that is a SkillsUSA competition,” Melissa McLain, GNTC graduation specialist and SkillsUSA adviser, said. “These students are learning what they need to do before they get into the workforce.”

According to McLain, there were more than 400 students and observers getting acquainted with the college as well as future employment opportunities. While the skills learned through competing may benefit future employers, the main purpose of the events was to give students a taste of what is to come.

“It gives them an eyeopening experience for what they can do after high school,” McLain said.

While there were plenty of industrial events involving physical labor such as plumbing and electrical construction wiring, the contest also featured soft skill competitions. Deasia Harris, a Northwest Whitfield High School student, interviewed for a fictional position with a panel of judges comprised of GNTC staff who gave her feedback on the meeting.

Harris told Lisa Pearson, Student Success assistant; Georgina Valderrama, secretary for Academic Affairs; and Michelle Sevy, associate degree nursing instructor, about her aspirations to join the Army and have the military pay for her medical school.

The following area students placed in the Region 1 SkillsUSA competition. The top two from each category, except Automotive Service Technology, advance to the state competition in Atlanta on March 12-14. The Automotive Service Technology category takes the top three students and is the only category to do so.

• Automotive Service Technology: Logan Pulliam, third place, Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy (Dalton)

• Cosmetology: Macy Tucker, first place, North Murray High School

• Early Childhood Education: Hailey Gallman, third place, Murray County High School

• Esthetics: Reagan Brown, first place, North Murray High School

• Job Interview: Lincoln Puryear, first place, Murray County High School

• Job Skill Demonstration: Emily Whatley, first place, North Murray High School

• Job Skill Demonstration Open: Madeline Skojac, first place, North Murray High School

• Pin Design: Sisly Mann, second place, North Murray High School; Stephanie Flanery, third place, Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy

• Quiz Bowl Team: Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy, second place

• Technical Drafting: Will Summey, third place, Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy

• T-shirt Design: Jasmine Collier, third place, Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy