Several Maplewood Career Center students who took part in the regional SkillsUSA competition on Saturday, March 3, have successfully qualified to move onto the state competition. The state competition will take place on April 24 and 25 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. SkillsUSA is a youth organization that works to encourage students to develop their skills and careers through friendly competition.

Around 30 students from Maplewood compete against up to 5,000 other students from all over Ohio during the SkillsUSA competition each year. The students first competed locally against their classmates, then moved onto the regional contests. Regional winners will compete at the state level, and the first-place winner from the Ohio competition will go on to nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

“SkillsUSA allows students to put what they have learned in the classroom and lab into practice under pressure,” said Ted Slankard, Maplewood Career Center supervisor. “Our students have worked tirelessly to perfect their skills and it was apparent in their outstanding performances at the regional level.”

Each program has a specific project that students have to complete during the competition; for example, cosmetology students might perform a haircut or formal hairstyle while welding students may be required to build a project from a blueprint.

The students who placed in the regional competition and will move onto the 2018 SkillsUSA state competition are: Haleigh Davis, third place in Esthetics; Jacob Fumich, second place in Automotive Refinishing; Cole Handley, second place in Carpentry; Dan Klienhen, second place in CNC Milling; Jacob Michael, second place in Medical Math; Hannah Palmer, second place in Medical Terminology; Isaac Russel, first place in Industrial Motor Control; Mackenzie Stubbs, second place in Basic Health Care; Travis Synnestvedt, first place in Electrical Construction Wiring; Angel Turner, third place in CNC Turning and Kyle Wilke, second place in Automotive Service.

“I wish all our competing students luck in the upcoming state competition,” said Superintendent Randall Griffith. “They have proven to be highly skilled and should be very proud of their accomplishments.”