This year’s theme is “SkillsUSA: Champions at Work, I’m Ready.” How does your competition help prepare a student for a career?
Compiled by Craig E. Moore
COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY
TERESA BOLTON, ASE —NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE
In the Collision Repair Technology contest, we have been adding cutting-edge technology over the past two years to make the competition as real-world as we can. The industry is changing, so we as industry leaders must prepare our future employees for work and show them the tools they will be using and where to find the information to repair today’s vehicles correctly.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The Entrepreneurship contest focuses on both technical and nontechnical skills needed to successfully start and manage a small business. Successful teams have demonstrated both excellent technical skills in the business case development and strong nontechnical skills in presenting and answering questions regarding their business plan to a panel of successful entrepreneur judges.
BILL LEISY, RETIRED PARTNER, ERNST & YOUNG LLP
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
SANDY WILTON, SME
Additive manufacturing can be and is used across many industries. Digital and 3D design skills that competitors showcase are sought-after skills in medical, automotive, aerospace, defense, automation industries and more. By participating, students are preparing for Industry 4.0.
EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION PROCESS
SHAWN DAUGHERTY, FRANCIS TUTTLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER, OKLAHOMA
My contest ensures that students are prepared for the entire job application process. They have to demonstrate how
to complete an application, they develop a résumé and a portfolio, and they have to be interviewed.
What is new or different in this year’s competition?
WEB DESIGN
MARK DUBOIS, WORLD ORGANIZATION OF WEBMASTERS
For the second year in a row, we have been using our “Web Design Contest in a Box” solution to provide competitors with a more realistic environment. Each team has access to its own server, local cloud storage and much more.
PIN DESIGN (STATE CONFERENCE)
STEVEN LICK, KNOWBELL LLC
We have made some changes to the design that you submit to the technical committee at the orientation meeting. It’s very important that you check with the current technical standards and make sure that you have proper sizes and information when you show up to orientation. The display becomes more important this year, so make sure you understand what we are looking for when you begin to develop your tabletop display.
TEAMWORKS
JIM BOHN, BROAN
We will be introducing a “total roofing” requirement that will challenge teams on technique and timing for completion.
AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING TECHNOLOGY
CECIL WILLIAMS, FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES
We added a new contest this year for Maintenance and Light Repair. This contest has a complete new set of standards.
MECHATRONICS
DAN BLANCK, FESTO
High school teams will have a PLC
activity in the contest. They will need to provide their own PLC and any programming hardware and software necessary. See the technical standards for PLC specs.
ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION WIRING
GREGORY RACHAL, POPS ELECTRIC LLC
We have defined the rules pertaining to electronic devices in the contest area and the materials to be provided by each contestant.
Competitions help in laying a foundation for her future
Sadat Gutierrez credits her competitive spirit, her SkillsUSA advisor and lots
of practice for setting her on the path to success. In her sophomore year at Harlingen (Texas) High School, a registration mistake accidentally placed Gutierrez into Victor Santillan’s masonry class. Gutierrez soon found that she excelled at bricklaying, a talent Santillan encouraged through the frequent in-class competitions he uses to prepare his students for SkillsUSA’s state and national championships. After giving it her all in her advisor’s contests, Gutierrez (pictured on the previous page and at right) was quickly on her way to competing in Masonry at the state level.
Despite experiencing setbacks that year, Gutierrez resolved to practice harder and come back stronger. Her hard work paid off when she earned a gold medal at the state competition in 2019 and qualified to compete in this year’s SkillsUSA Championships. Asked what she feels gave her the advantage, she cites her passion for masonry and for competition.
“I really love what I do. That’s why I keep practicing, so I can show up a lot better the next year or the year after that,” she says. Having recently accepted a scholarship to Texas State Technical College, she already has her sights set on the next college/postsecondary competition.
Over 100 national competitions are scheduled for 2020.
3D Visualization and Animation
Action Skills
Additive Manufacturing Advertising Design
American Spirit
Architectural Drafting
Audio/Radio Production
Automated Manufacturing Technology
Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair demonstration
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Automotive Service Technology
Aviation Maintenance Technology Barbering demonstration
Basic Health Care Skills
Broadcast News Production
Building Maintenance Cabinetmaking
Career Pathways Showcase
Carpentry
Chapter Business Procedure
Chapter Display
CNC Milling Specialist
CNC Technician
CNC Turning Specialist
Collision Damage Appraisal
Collision Repair Technology
Commercial Baking
Community Action Project
Community Service
Computer Programming
Cosmetology
Crime Scene Investigation
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Customer Service
Cybersecurity demonstration
Dental Assisting
Diesel Equipment Technology
Digital Cinema Production
Early Childhood Education
Electrical Construction Wiring
Electronics Technology
Emergency Medical Technician demonstration
Employment Application Process
Engineering Technology/Design
Entrepreneurship
Esthetics
Extemporaneous Speaking
Firefighting
First Aid/CPR
Graphic Communications
Graphics Imaging — Sublimation
Health Knowledge Bowl
Health Occupations Professional Portfolio
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Industrial Motor Control
Information Technology Services
Interactive Application and Video Game Development
Internet of Things and Smart Home Internetworking
Job Interview
Job Skill Demonstration A
Job Skill Demonstration Open
Major Appliance and Refrigeration Technology
Marine Service Technology Masonry
Mechatronics
Medical Assisting
Medical Math
Medical Terminology
Mobile Electronics Installation
Mobile Robotics Technology
Motorcycle Service Technology
Nail Care
Nurse Assisting
Occupational Health and Safety Opening and Closing Ceremonies Outstanding Chapter
Photography
Pin Design (State Conference) Plumbing
Power Equipment Technology
Practical Nursing
Prepared Speech
Principles of Engineering/Technology
Promotional Bulletin Board
Quiz Bowl
Related Technical Math
Restaurant Service
Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Robotics and Automation Technology Screen Printing Technology
Sheet Metal
T-shirt Design
Team Engineering Challenge
TeamWorks
Technical Computer Applications
Technical Drafting
Telecommunications Cabling Television (Video) Production
T-shirt Design
Web Design
Welding
Welding Fabrication
Welding Sculpture
Winning and learning together
For the Masiellos of Hillsboro, N.J., winning big is a family affair. This
trio of siblings currently holds seven state medals between them, and each has held officers’ positions in their local SkillsUSA chapter. “It’s another way for us to come together,” Michelle Masiello explains.
All three Masiellos attended or still attend the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences, with Anne Marie now pursuing a bachelor’s and medical degree
at Drexel University. Michelle and Chris- topher plan to follow a similar path.
Asked how competing has prepared them for their futures, Christopher says, “It’s a good way to get experience in what it’s like to operate in one field or another, depending on what competition you choose. And you can get that experience when you’re a high-schooler, instead of trying to learn about a field when you’re pursuing it in higher education.”
Crafting a new purpose
A chance accident set Allison Steinmeyer on a new course for success. She let go of her dream of becoming a crime scene investigator but soon found another.
A 2017 motorcycle accident left Steinmeyer with a broken back and paralyzed left leg. Following six months of tough recovery, she realized she needed to find her career path. She enrolled in the fine woodworking and cabinet-making program at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. There, her advisor, Les Stackpole, introduced her to SkillsUSA, encouraged her to run for state office and to compete in her trade.
Steinmeyer says the experience she’s gained has been invaluable. She’s even found an unexpected outlet for expression.
“It’s helping me with my creativity,” she explains. “I’ve never really been an artistic person, and it’s helping me to push my own boundaries. I really love that.”
Steinmeyer is set to graduate in 2020 and can’t wait to put her experience to work.
Winning gold comes full circle
A win in the national Architectural Drafting competition earned Jennifer Sprow the gold and the chance to weigh in on the design of the Champions Circle at SkillsUSA’s headquarters. During her time at Stafford (Va.) High School, Sprow’s advisor, Robert Jett, was tasked with transforming early 3D renderings of the pavilion into architectural drawings. Jett decided to involve his class in the project, and Sprow’s win the previous year made her the perfect candidate for the job. She set to work offering design insight, and even suggested widening the circle’s entrance for better traffic flow.
Her input contributed to the final vision for the Champions Circle.
Her advice
When asked what advice she has to offer future competitors, Sprow — who repeated her gold medal win in the national competition the next year — encourages careful review of contest materials. “It’s nice to do your research and kind of figure out what the judges are looking for,” she says.
“Especially when you get to the national competition, it’s very handy to read the packet that they give you about the competition, because it outlines what is required and what is expected of you very well.”
On The Web
Know the rules. Teachers who are professional members get the 2020 SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards as a benefit. Go to: https:// www.skillsusa-register.org/CRC/ CRCLogin.aspx
Don’t see your event represented in these pages? Check our responsive digital publication, which covers even more from the contest organizers, at: https://www.skillsusa.org/publications- news/skillsusa-champions-magazine/
