As SkillsUSA Week is recognized, Wallace State is honored to succeed annually in the organization

HANCEVILLE, ALA. –  Last May, Wallace State Community College had a record 15 students finish in first place in their respective SkillsUSA competitions, and the Crime Scene Investigation team went on to earn second place in the nation.
Wallace State has multiple students participate in SkillsUSA competitions each year and is honored to be associated with the national organization, which is recognizing SkillsUSA week through Saturday.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA serves more than 300,000 students and instructors annually. The organization has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations.
“Wallace State is proud to have the success we’ve enjoyed in SkillsUSA, including earning gold medals year after year in the state competition. SkillsUSA is a wonderful and respected organization, allowing our students to showcase their talents on many levels. We have instructors who are committed to their trade, and they help students achieve the best they can in their respective areas,” said Jimmy Hodges, Wallace State’s Dean of Applied Technologies. “More importantly, we have students each year committed to completing the tasks and striving to be the best they can be. They just don’t go to class and decide to be successful in SkillsUSA events. They put in extended hours. They come in early and stay late to prepare and train for the state competition. We take pride in fulfilling the goals and values set aside by SkillsUSA.”
Around this time of the year, Wallace State students interested in competing in SkillsUSA events kick into high gear their practice and training for the state competition in May.
Ranging from welding to diesel equipment technology and from crime scene investigation to a job interview category, Wallace State students compete each year in a variety of events set aside by the organization.
In 2016 alone, Wallace State earned state gold medals in eight different categories.
Wallace State’s SkillsUSA gold medal winners within the state in 2016 were Melissa Kilpatrick, Anthony Martin and John Oliver in the Crime Scene Investigation category, Jared Chafin (CNC Turning Specialist), Justin Burnett (CNC Technician), Michael Mendonca (Diesel Equipment Technology), Nickolas Nuss (Electronic Technology), Corey Green and Cristal Rios-Ruiz (Robotics and Automation) and Cody Wimberly (Job Interview – Diesel Equipment Technology). Spa and salon management students Maegan Stegall, Taylor Chambers, Taylor Murphree, Allison Watts and Holly Benson each finished first in the Cosmetology Quiz Bowl.
Wallace State students also earning state medals were Chad Scott, 2^nd place in Automotive Refinishing Technology; Kyle Rice, second in CNC Technician; Brandi Sears, Vanessa Shedd and Breanna Sturtevant, all earning second place in Crime Scene Investigation; Gregory Milligan, 2^nd place in Electronic Technology; Marcus O’Hair, 2^nd in Open Job Skill Demonstration in Precision Machine Technology; Cody Barnhart, 3^rd place in CNC Milling Specialist; Ben Turney, 3^rd place in CNC Turning Specialist and Lucas Randolph in Job Skill Demonstration in Diesel Equipment Technology.
For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer, Communications and Marketing
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722    256-352-8443 direct
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
 
Kristen Holmes
Communications & Marketing Director, and
Administrator, The Evelyn Burrow Museum
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW | Hanceville, AL 35077
E-mail: kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Office: 256.352.8118 | Cell: 256.339.2519 | Toll Free: 866.350.9722