Skillsusa Championships 2014 Technology, Mays Landing, N.J

championsSkillsUSA FALL 2014

golden opportunities celebrating 50 years of champions at work conference highlights and winners preserving our heritage our new, state-of-the-art website

They’re Making the Cut Chefs on the Rise WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A CHAMPION? STANDARDS

Available in October. 2015-2016 SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards Book Order the book for $35.95 at www.lulu.com

Available in October. 2015-2016 SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards CD-ROM Package Order the CD-ROM package for $19.95 online at: www.skillsusa.org/store/technicalstandards.html

Get ready to compete. The latest edition, available in October.

championsSkillsUSA

SkillsUSA’s Official Magazine BOARD OF DIRECTORS 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176-5494 Brent Kindred (Wisconsin) 703-777-8810 Michael de Castro (Air Products) www.skillsusa.org Chris Arvin (Caterpillar University) James King (Tennessee) MAGAZINE STAFF/OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS Dave Milliken (Utah) Tom Hall, Director Peggy Torrens (Kansas) Ann Schreiber, Associate Director, Communications Charles Wallace (Maryland) Craig Moore, Manager, Web/Technology Alex Gromada (Association for Career and Technical Tom Kercheval, Manager, Audiovisual Technology/ Education) Communications Kathy Mannes (American Association of Community Colleges) OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Polz (SkillsUSA State Directors Association) Tim Lawrence, Executive Director Scott Stump (National Association of State Directors Sandra Moore, Administrative Assistant of Career and Technical Education Consortium) Troy Dally (Lowe’s Companies Inc.) ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE Laurie Hackett (Air Products) Kim Graham, Director Russ Hoffbauer (State Farm Insurance Companies) Keith Ashby, Manager, Educational Resources/ Chris Tesmer (Newell Rubbermaid) SkillsUSA champions online National Center Melissa Wilson, Manager, Human Resources NATIONAL STUDENT OFFICERS/ADVISORS Visit the SkillsUSA Champions “e-zine” version Roxanne Hodge, Customer Service Representative HIGH SCHOOL at www.skillsusa.org/champions/ to flip through Ahmad Shawwal/Timothy McLeod (Virginia) articles, view videos and extra photos and get BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPMENT Dalton Crump/Elizabeth Crump (North Carolina) updates. You’ll find archives of past issues, adver- Kelly Persons, Director Stephanie Wilburn/Todd Anderson (Oklahoma) tiser links, lesson plans for new issues, and more. Dave Worden, Program Director, SkillsUSA Robert Gomez/Joe Valdez (Texas) Championships Antonio Vargas/Laura Velez (Connecticut) See even more champions on our frequently Christen Battaglia, Program Manager, Corporate Taylor Mackie/Sheila Fox (Massachusetts) updated website, www.skillsusa.org, as well as: and Campaign Development Benjamin Miller/Lauren-Anne Sledzinski (Virginia) Karen Beatty, Program Manager, Business Partner- Matthew Carder/Deborah Luellen (Ohio) ships and Development Anastasia Hawkins/Jordan Bedhart (Texas) Jim Kregiel, Program Manager, SkillsUSA Summer Diegel/Eric Croft (Montana) Championships COLLEGE/POSTSECONDARY Volume 49, No. 1 COMMUNICATIONS AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Brooke Johnson/James Carter (North Carolina) SkillsUSA Champions (ISSN 1040-4538) is published four Tom Holdsworth, Associate Executive Director Quinel Nabors/Joanne Edley (Tennessee) times per school year — Fall (October/November), Winter Jane Short, Program Manager Darlenne Helena/Thomas Thoss (Florida) (December/January), Spring (February/March) and Summer Shane Morrison/Ryland Stonehocker (Oklahoma) (April/ May) — by SkillsUSA Inc. at 14001 SkillsUSA Way, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND ASSESSMENTS Alex Bruin/Michelle Martinez (Arizona) Leesburg, VA 20176. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, VA, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2014 by SkillsUSA. Marsha Daves, Director All rights reserved. Nonmember subscriptions: $15 per year ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES FOR SKILLSUSA CHAMPIONS Heidi Walsh, Program Director, Programs and Grant (SkillsUSA members, $1.30 paid with dues or affiliation fees). Management Constellation Enterprises Inc. Niki Clausen, Associate Director, Training 53 Main St./P.O. Box 508 POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to SkillsUSA Champions, Shelly Coates, Associate Director, Conference Cherry Valley, NY 13320 Attn.: Judy Garrison, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. Management Services 607-264-9069 Stephanie Bland, Program Specialist The names SkillsUSA, SkillsUSA Championships and SkillsUSA Ashley Ridgeway, Program Specialist, Conference Champions; the SkillsUSA: Champions at Work slogan; and the SkillsUSA logo, emblem and slogan art are all registered trade- Management Services marks of SkillsUSA Inc. All rights are reserved, and permission must be granted by the national headquarters of SkillsUSA MARKETING, MEMBERSHIP AND SALES prior to any use. Kelly Horton, Director Judy Garrison, Senior Manager, Membership Services In keeping with a tradition of respect for the individuality Susan Trent, Program Manager, Member Services of our members and our role in workforce development, Patty Duncan, Program Manager, Work Force Ready SkillsUSA strives to ensure inclusive participation in all of our System and Member Services programs, partnerships and employment opportunities.

KANSAS CITY OFFICE • 816-691-3827 Byekwaso Gilbert, SkillsUSA Program Manager

4 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 asktim

Celebrate the Journey Executive Director Tim Lawrence has known SkillsUSA as a student member, instructor, industry partner and state director. Got a question? He can help. Q&A SkillsUSA will commemorate its To help you see how far we’ve all Q:50th birthday this school year. come in 50 years, this issue includes a What’s the best way to be a part of it? few historical facts. It also lists our 2014 Tim: Any new academic year holds great SkillsUSA Championships winners from potential for our organization and for across the nation. Each name printed every student, educator and business represents a student’s journey, with a partner who decides to become involved. teacher or two behind it. Before this one is over, we’ll also celebrate As you begin your personal journey this a major milestone: the golden anniversary school year, remember that one of the of SkillsUSA’s founding on May 8, 1965. biggest mistakes we can make in life is to While we’ll be looking back at our constantly compare ourselves to others. amazing journey over the past 50 years, There is no one right way to learn, grow, it’s important to look toward the future. feel or achieve. People are as unique as We’re focused on helping all our current snowflakes — only by tapping into what members realize their full potential. As makes us special can we find our strengths you develop the technical and professional and build on them. SkillsUSA is inclusive, skills that come through SkillsUSA, take and everyone can find a role this year as a moment to celebrate how you personally a member, officer, contestant, delegate, are helping to move our schools, commu- observer, technical committee member, nities and nation forward. contest judge or volunteer. Such journeys are the theme of this SkillsUSA’s focus has always been about magazine issue. Some take us to the other students becoming the best they can be side of the world, such as our Water Inno- and finding a niche in the organization. vation Challenge team going to Singa- Throughout this anniversary year, stay pore. Some take us to the bright lights of connected through our magazine, the new New York, as with our future chefs who www.skillsusa.org and social media. We’ll competed on TV’s “Chopped.” And some keep you posted on the buildup to our big happen right at home. Our SkillsUSA celebration and the role you can play. • Advisor of the Year has spent 30 years in Carthage, Mo., actively moving students Got questions about SkillsUSA or other topics? forward. You’ll also read about a student’s Email [email protected] or send a letter to journey leading to a pretty sweet career in the address on the facing page. Put “Ask Tim” Hershey, Pa., despite personal challenges. in the subject line or mail address.

Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 5 what’snew

Real-World Skills Setting New Standards

very two years, SkillsUSA updates and revises the E SkillsUSA Championships Techni- Help Solve cal Standards, and the latest update is coming this fall. This plus-sized tome comes in CD-ROM or book format and contains the official rules, regula- Real Problems tions and guidelines for competing in every official SkillsUSA contest. These ee that column just to the right of Both teams were required to design contests are created with huge input Sthis one? That’s where, last issue, we innovative plumbing solutions for specific from our industry partners, ensuring wished our team from the United States communities in Nepal and Bangladesh that students are learning the most well as they prepared to compete in the suffering health issues from poor sanita- up-to-date skills in their field of study. inaugural Water Innovation Challenge in tion conditions. After a series of hands-on A lack of using this resource has been Singapore. Why have they made the jump challenges that included building a hand linked to medal-free competition to this column? Because they won! bore pump, assembling a rainwater collec- results. Find it at: www.skillsusa.org/store/ The four-member team — including tion system, and installing a solar pump, technicalstandards.html. • three former SkillsUSA members — faced the American team emerged victorious. a team from Australia during the intense For more, including video, visit: and rewarding three-day event. www.worldskillsfoundation.org. • America’s winning team (from left): Michigan’s Judith Torres with former SkillsUSA members Sarah Parker of North Carolina and Massachusetts’ Tim Murphy and Nick Michalenko. Photo courtesy of WorldSkills Foundation WorldSkills Photo courtesy of

6 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 what’snew

TWO PATHS LEAD CHAPTERS TO EXCELLENCE Past Glories Shape Bright Futures his fall, SkillsUSA is unveiling The 50th national conference was one for the Tthe Chapter Excellence Program record books (see Page 10), but it also featured (CEP), which honors achievement relative to SkillsUSA’s framework for moments you can still use in the year ahead. On developing personal, workplace and SkillsUSA’s YouTube channel and in our iTunes technical skills. CEP establishes a quality baseline that all chapters are podcasts, you’ll find some of the conference’s encouraged to attain, with extra incen- most popular speeches in their entirety, video tive for exemplary performance. The program consists of four award highlights from each day, a “Week in Review” levels, with the first three recognized video and other resources. Not just a nostalgia by state and the final level eligible for national recognition. What’s trip, these resources can provide seeds for lesson even better is that CEP is focused on plans, tools for recruiting and more. For the pod- the learning and skills developed by students as a result of chapter involve- casts, visit: www.skillsusa.org/publications-news/ ment versus honoring chapters simply podcasts/. Find our YouTube channel at: www. because of the number of activities they conduct throughout the year. youtube.com/user/SkillsUSAOfficial. • The advantages of CEP are many. If you’re ready to take your chapter to the next level, this program is for you. For more, visit: www.skillsusa.org/ programs/chapter-excellence-program/. SkillsUSA’s popular e-learning Another tool f you’re a SkillsUSA member, you sessions offer another great set of Ialready know you have an edge on the resources for improving your chapter competition when it comes to securing dramatically and quickly, whether to help build employment. But why not sharpen that you’re a rookie advisor or a seasoned edge even further? veteran. big impressions There’s a “SkillsUSA Certificate of These 45-minute online training Participation” members can use in their sessions are designed to deliver portfolios. It allows for an advisor’s signa- practical solutions to a wide variety ture and includes checkoffs for commu- of issues facing chapters every year. nity service work, competition involve- You’ll find great tips on managing ment, levels completed in the Professional chapter meetings, understanding the Development Program and more. SkillsUSA framework, developing Along with a strong résumé, an employ- a program of work and much more. ment portfolio can really impress a poten- Even better, the sessions are offered tial employer. This certificate will help at times that will fit an advisor’s busy make an even stronger impression. Find schedule. To see all available topics a completed certificate and a template at: covered, visit: www.skillsusa.org/events- www.skillsusa.org/membership-resources/ training/webinars/. • advisors/certificate-of-participation/. •

Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 7 what’snew

an iPhone and the biggest social network says Tim Lawrence, SkillsUSA’s execu- A BETTER WEBSITE was called Myspace. To say things have tive director. “We have a large and diverse changed is a bit of an understatement. membership, and the changes will help TO HELP YOU FIND The new site structure was developed people find the content that is most WHAT YOU NEED after surveying our customers: teachers, important to them, whether they are students, state directors, alumni and advisors, students or alumni members.” f you’ve visited www.SkillsUSA.org SkillsUSA staff. One of the most dramatic changes to the Ilately, you’ve probably noticed some- In addition to incorporating best site is that it features a responsive design. thing different. If you haven’t, drop what practices in Web design and organiza- This means it can be easily viewed and you’re doing and take a look, because our tion, the site more easily incorporates navigated on different devices: desktop, official website has just undergone a major video content and enables sharing across phone or tablet. The content simply overhaul. It’s the first extensive redesign of social networks. The site also uses “mega reflows to match the user’s device. the site since early 2006. menus” to make information easier to find But don’t take our word for it. Go to the To put this in context, the last time and, of course, a search engine. nearest computer, smartphone or tablet structural changes like these were made “Our website has a lot of tools to help and visit: www.skillsusa.org to check it out to our website, there was no such thing as our members run a successful chapter,” for yourself. — By Craig E. Moore •

“Mega menus” make content easier to locate on the website.

The ability to feature videos has Headlines and due dates update been added throughout the site. as new stories are added.

8 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 Hand-in-Hand for our future.

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NLSC CELEBRATES A BIG MILESTONE WITH BIG PRIDE

killsUSA’s 50th National Leadership Sand Skills Conference — its last in Kansas City, Mo. — did more than exceed hype: it cemented a legacy, validating the principles and purposes the organization was founded on nearly 50 years ago. That first conference in 1965 featured 200 attendees from a handful of states. This year? An all-time record of more than 10,000 paid registrants from nearly every corner of the nation, with an esti- mated total attendance of 16,000. At the Opening Ceremony, keynote speaker Chris Fischer — shark expert and founder of OCEARCH — declared the “biggest room in the world” to be “the room for improvement.” It was a message that set the stage for both the celebration of how far SkillsUSA has come in 50 years and the determination to go even farther. SkillsUSA’s first competitive events were held in 1967, featuring 54 contestants in five leadership competitions. The 2014 SkillsUSA Championships saw the most contestants ever at more than 6,000, competing in the most events ever at 99. The audience favorite Mike Rowe, former host of the popular “Dirty Jobs” TV show, made a surprise appearance to film segments for his new “Somebody’s Gotta Do It” on CNN. On the last morning of the conference, 500 students and advisors donated their time and abilities to service projects throughout the area. They were cleaned up and ready to go by the evening’s Awards Ceremony, which delivered nearly 1,000 gold, silver and bronze medallions to America’s best and brightest. For more on 2014’s NLSC, the biggest and best in SkillsUSA history, visit: www.

tinyurl.com/NLSC14photos. • Wolf Lloyd Photos:

10 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 OUR FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE, 1965 SkillsUSA began with the adoption of a constitution on may 8, 1965. About 200 students, instructors and representatives of business and labor participated in this founding conference at the Hotel Andrew Jackson in Nashville, Tenn.

READY TO PUT YOUR 2014 CONFERENCE HONOREES Advisor of the Year: Mark Sponaugle, Carthage (Mo.) Technical Center (see CAREER story, Page 17) IN MOTION? Honorary Life Members: Carl Creas- man, former SkillsUSA Tennessee college/postsecondary director; Jeff Penske – a leader in transportation Johnson, former representative of the – invites you to consider a diesel Association for Career and Techni- technician position at one of our more cal Education on the SkillsUSA board than 750 locations across the country. of directors, from Oklahoma; Ada Penske offers competitive wages and Kranenberg, former program direc- a wide range of beneﬁts. tor of the SkillsUSA Championships; Nick Mastrone, former national board Check out Penske’s Careers videos on member from Irwin Tools YouTube to learn more about exciting job opportunities. Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award: Alan Gomez, STEM Academy Our Services (to read his story, go to: www.tinyurl. • Truck Rental and Leasing com/SkillsUSAChampions and click on • Truck Maintenance our Spring 2014 issue) • Logistics Outstanding Alumni Award/Profes- sional Development Program Interna- Thanks to all the competitors for tional Degree: Joshua Brunk, Hershey, their hard work and dedication. Pa. (see story this issue, Page 23) Congratulations to all the competition winners, including Sidnie McGraw, Outstanding Educator: Richard Lee winner of our Snap-on Ross, longtime contributor to SkillsUSA tool box rafﬂe. We wish programs and activities, from Virginia Sidnie the best of luck this fall in the Diesel Pat Dalton Outstanding Achievement program at MATC in Award: Laurie Hackett, Air Products Spanish Fork, Utah.

President’s Volunteer Service Award: Nearly 150 individual SkillsUSA members and 11 teams received gold, silver or bronze awards. For the full list, go to: www.tinyurl.com/ln94our

Student2Student Mentoring Recogni- tion: (grand prize) Tulsa (Okla.) Tech- nology Center; (awards of excellence) Brookhaven Technical Center, Bellport, N.Y.; Kofa High School, Yuma, Ariz.

Torch Carrier Award: Mike Rowe, GoPenske.com/careers mikeroweWORKS Foundation • Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Photo: LLoyd Wolf; Illustration: Tom Kercheval Tom Illustration: Wolf; LLoyd Photo:

Ayoub, Westwood High School, Austin, Texas COMPUTER PROGRAMMING: Nathaniel Riehl, Illinois Central College, East Peoria; Kallyn Gowdy, Kent Career Technical Center, Grand Rapids, Mich. COSME- TOLOGY: Bailey Tomisin, Ogden-Weber Applied Tech- nology College, Ogden, Utah; Lauryn Erickson, Mecosta Osceola Career Center, Big Rapids, Mich. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION: (teams) New England Institute of Technology, Warwick, R.I.; Pinellas Park High School, Largo, Fla. CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Joshua Moody, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah; Mike Boyes, Sabin-Schellenberg Center, Milwaukie, Ore. CULINARY ARTS: Troy Ferrell, Carver Career Center, Charleston, W.Va.; Chormaic Sullivan, Columbia (Mo.) CELEBRATING OUR WINNERS! Area Career Center CUSTOMER SERVICE: Mike Kangiser, South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia, Wash.; Aracelis Salce, Atlantic County Institute of SkillsUSA Championships 2014 Technology, Mays Landing, N.J. DENTAL ASSISTING: Dena Bolden, Mercer County Tech- 3-D VISUALIZATION AND ANIMATION: Michael Camp- CABINETMAKING: Austin Cooper, Wisconsin Indian- nical Educational Center, Princeton, W.Va.; Jonathan bell/Tim Moser, Macomb Community College, head Technical College, Rice Lake, Wis.; Evan Stigale, Candido, Diman RVTHS, Fall River, Mass. DIESEL EQUIP- Warren, Mich.; Yosua Hermawan/John Touris, Thomas Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Sewell, N.J. MENT TECHNOLOGY: Dustin Mortsolf, Highland Jefferson High School, Denver CAREER PATHWAYS SHOWCASE: (teams) Diman Community College Technical Center, Atchison, Kan.; Regional Vocational Technical High School (RVTHS), Jason Krueger, Perry (Iowa) Community High School ACTION SKILLS: David Escobedo, Slawson Occupa- Fall River, Mass.; EHOVE Career Center, Milan, Ohio; DIGITAL CINEMA PRODUCTION: Michael Stone/James tional Center, Bell, Calif.; Audrey Seltzer, Sun Area Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston; Harris Hunt, Ozarks Technical Community College, Spring- Technical Institute, New Berlin, Pa. ADVERTISING County High School, Hamilton, Ga.; Manatee Techni- field, Mo.; Andrew Skahan/Zachery Gavin, Cheshire DESIGN: Amber Jackson, Sullivan College of Technol- cal Institute, Bradenton, Fla. (two medals); Marine Vocational Center, Keene, N.H. ogy and Design, Louisville, Ky.; Vanessa Vilchez, Ameri- Academy of Technology and Environmental School, cas High School, El Paso, Texas AMERICAN SPIRIT: Manahawkin, N.J.; Pinellas Technical Education EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Allison Fowler, South- (teams) Atlanta Technical College; Bergen County Center (PTEC), St. Petersburg, Fla.; Somerset County eastern Technical College, Vidalia, Ga.; Raegen Docca, Academies, Hackensack, N.J. ARCHITECTURAL DRAFT- Vocational and Technical High School, Bridgewater, Greater New Bedford (Mass.) RVTHS ELECTRICAL ING: Cody Garrett, Salt Lake Community College, Salt N.J.; Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Eliza- CONSTRUCTION WIRING: Shaun Roberto, Great Plains Lake City, Utah; Michael Kuntz, Shadow Ridge High bethton; Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Technology Center, Lawton, Okla.; Kyle Baranczyk, School, Surprise, Ariz. AUDIO/RADIO PRODUCTION: Knoxville; Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Pulaski (Wis.) High School ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY: Jonny Tanner/Nathan Smith, Utah Valley University, Centers Sentinel Campus, Tiffin, Ohio CARPENTRY: Alex Noble, Athens (Ga.) Technical College; Lee Morris, Orem, Utah; Sarah Wu/Christian Whitted, Orlando Ryan Greenwood, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah; Sabin-Schellenberg Center, Milwaukie, Ore. EMPLOY- (Fla.) Tech AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING TECHNOL- Christopher Moran, Hillyard Technical Center, MENT APPLICATION PROCESS: Cynthia Lemons, West OGY: (teams) Madison (Wis.) Area Technical College; St. Joseph, Mo. CHAPTER BUSINESS PROCEDURE: Georgia Technical College, La Grange; Jeffrey Kelley, Watertown (Wis.) High School AUTOMOTIVE REFINISH- (teams) Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton, Fla.; Tulsa (Okla.) Technology Center – Peoria ENGINEERING ING TECHNOLOGY: Jose Martinez-Joya, Waubonsee Lawrence County High School, Lawrenceburg, Tenn. TECHNOLOGY/DESIGN: (teams) Utah Valley University, Community College, Sugar Grove, Ill.; Lane Metheny, CHAPTER DISPLAY: (teams) Central Georgia Technical Orem, Utah; Francis Tuttle Technology Center – Port- Polytech High School, Woodside, Del. AUTOMOTIVE College, Macon; Delaware (Ohio) Area Career Center land Campus, Oklahoma City, Okla. ENTREPRENEUR- SERVICE TECHNOLOGY: Neal Foster, Lakes Region CNC MILLING: Paul Kelley, Ranken Technical College, SHIP: (teams) Catawba Valley Community College, Community College, Laconia, N.H.; Kelly Ziegler, San St. Louis; Jonathon Ferreira, Diman RVTHS, Fall River, Hickory, N.C.; Westwood High School, Austin, Texas Luis Obispo (Calif.) High School AVIATION MAINTE- Mass. CNC TURNING: John Reiter, Macomb Commu- ESTHETICS: Brigitte Schwartz, Arkansas State Univer- NANCE TECHNOLOGY: Marc Kaylor, Pennsylvania nity College, Warren, Mich.; Robert Metzger, Lehigh sity at Marked Tree; Erica Odom, White House (Tenn.) College of Technology, Williamsport; Caleb Wood, Career and Technical Institute, Schnecksville, Pa. High School EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING: Marcus Aviation Center, Swanton, Ohio COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY: Gavin Johnson, Utah Van Gelder, St. Paul (Minn.) College; Francesca Reznik, Valley University, Orem, Utah; Dustin Benner, Monmouth County Vocational School, Wall, N.J. BASIC HEALTH CARE SKILLS: Jenna Spillane, Berks Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers Career and Technology Center West Campus, Lees- Sentinel Campus, Tiffin, Ohio COMMERCIAL BAKING: FIREFIGHTING: Nicholas Crosby, PTEC, St. Petersburg, port, Pa. BROADCAST NEWS PRODUCTION: (teams) Paul Smith, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah; Maria Fla.; Jeremy Meyer, Austin High School, El Paso, Texas Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, Buko, Saginaw (Mich.) Career Complex COMMUNITY FIRST AID/CPR: Joshua Cote, Eastern Maine Commu- Mo.; Southeast High School, Bradenton, Fla. BUILDING ACTION PROJECT: Joseph Fisher/Jack Rogers, Upper nity College, Bangor; Garrett Carlson, United Technol- MAINTENANCE: David Salcedo, Moore Norman Tech- Cape Regional Technical School, Bourne, Mass. ogies Center, Bangor, Maine nology Center, Norman, Okla.; Raymond Broughton, COMMUNITY SERVICE: (teams) Autry Technology Mid-East Career and Technology Centers, Zanesville, Center, Enid, Okla.; Cross Keys High School, Atlanta GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS: Shelby Johnson, Tulsa Ohio COMPUTER MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY: Cris Hayes, Technology Center, Sand Springs, Okla.; Chandler Kerr, North Central Kansas Technical College, Beloit; Chris Center of Applied Technology North, Severn, Md.

12 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 THE FIRST NATIONAL COMPETITIONS, 1967 The organization’s first national competitive events were held at its third conference in Columbus, Ohio. In 1972, they became known as the U.S. Skill Olympics; the name changed to the SkillsUSA Championships in 1995. From five leadership events in 1967, this program grew to 99 events by 2014, with more than 6,000 students participating in skilled, leadership and occupationally related contests.

GRAPHICS IMAGING – SUBLIMATION: Megan McKay, MOBILE ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGY: Kyle Riddle/Robert ter Technical High School, Newark, Md. RESIDENTIAL Sikeston (Mo.) Career and Technology Center; Kiera Layson, Tennessee College of Applied Technology – SYSTEMS INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE: Lawrence Ferguson, Waynesville (Mo.) Career Center Hohenwald; Sri Sai Swetha Atluri/Brandon Heise, Brooks, Texas State Technical College – Waco; Nate Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix MOTORCYCLE Reeder, Ada Professional-Technical Center, Meridian, HEALTH KNOWLEDGE BOWL: (teams) State Fair Career SERVICE TECHNOLOGY: Niko Antonopoulos, Lake Wash- Idaho RESTAURANT SERVICE: Leonela Montas, Culinary and Technology Center, Sedalia, Mo.; Southwest ington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, Wash.; Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y.; Brittany Rovedo, Vermont Career Development Center, Bennington Michael Cordes, Red Wing (Minn.) High School Blackstone Valley RVTHS, Upton, Mass. ROBOTICS AND HEALTH OCCUPATIONS PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO: AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY: Christine Larish/Dana Audra Snow, Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton, NAIL CARE: Brooklyn Lackney, Mecosta Osceola Career Jaeger, North Arkansas College, Harrison; Jared Villan- Fla.; Theresa Rook, Blackstone Valley RVTHS, Upton, Center, Big Rapids, Mich.; Aria Justice, Autry Technol- ueva Valentin/Leonel Osoria, Escuela Superior Voca- Mass. HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING AND ogy Center, Enid, Okla. NURSE ASSISTING: Christie cional Antonio Luchetti, Arecibo, Puerto Rico REFRIGERATION: Beau Tippett, Lewis-Clark State Hudgins, Tennessee College of Applied Technology – College, Lewiston, Idaho; Brandon Irons, Indian Capi- Chattanooga; James Aiguier, South Shore Vocational SCREEN PRINTING TECHNOLOGY: Kimberly Jeppson, tal Technology Center, Muskogee, Okla. HUMANOID Technical High School, Hanover, Mass. Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, Utah; ROBOTICS: Logan Blake/Brian Juhl, Hillyard Technical Miranda Haller, Nichols Career Center, Jefferson City, Center, St. Joseph, Mo. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY – MULTIPLE: Mo. SHEET METAL: Robert Brown, Rowan Cabarrus (teams) Manatee Technical Institute, Bradenton, Fla.; Community College, Salisbury, N.C.; Benjamin Bois- INDUSTRIAL MOTOR CONTROL: Abraham Barrios, Los Dubiski Career High School, Grand Prairie, Texas vert, McCann Technical High School, North Adams, Angeles Trade-Technical College; Logan Lozier, Earnest OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY – SINGLE: (teams) Mass. SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS: Adriane Tenequer, Pruett Center of Technology, Hollywood, Ala. INTERAC- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Gautier; Navajo Technical College, Crownpoint, N.M.; Jon TIVE APPLICATION AND VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT: Dubiski Career High School, Grand Prairie, Texas Henry, Northeast Technology Center, Afton, Okla. (team) College Station (Texas) High School INTERNET- OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES: (teams) Oconee WORKING: Mackenzie Stephens, Prosser Career Fall Line Technical College, Dublin, Ga.; North Platte TEAMWORKS: (teams) Metropolitan Community Education Center, New Albany, Ind.; Cooper Leabo, (Neb.) High School OUTSTANDING CHAPTER: (teams) College, Omaha, Neb.; St. Johnsbury (Vt.) Academy Summit Technology Academy, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory, N.C.; TECHNICAL COMPUTER APPLICATIONS: Tanner Illg, Iowa Tulsa (Okla.) Technology Center – Peoria Central Community College, Fort Dodge; Tyler Smith, JOB INTERVIEW: Marcus Walker, Itawamba Commu- Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N.H. TECHNICAL DRAFTING: nity College, Tupelo, Miss.; Fernando Ortiz II, Lake PHOTOGRAPHY: Georgia Zumwalt, North Georgia Matt Haan, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich.; County High Schools Technology Campus, Grayslake, Technical College, Clarkesville; Colton Morano, Arbor Andrew Smith, N.F. Woods Advanced Technology and Ill. JOB SKILL DEMONSTRATION A: Alexandra Santos, View High School, Las Vegas PIN DESIGN (STATE Arts Center, Mooresville, N.C. TELECOMMUNICATIONS Diman RVTHS, Fall River, Mass.; Clarissa Jenkins, North CONFERENCE): Karianne Koski Hutchinson, Utah CABLING: Manuel Strassner, Tennessee College of Thurston High School, Lacey, Wash. JOB SKILL DEMON- Valley University, Orem, Utah; Marcell Dingess, East- Applied Technology – Knoxville; William Clontz, STRATION OPEN: Dale Brand, East Mississippi Commu- land Career Center, Groveport, Ohio PLUMBING: Flint Weaver Academy, Greensboro, N.C. TELEVISION (VIDEO) nity College, Mayhew; Andrew Donald, A.P. Fatherree McCloud, Davis Applied Technology College, Kaysville, PRODUCTION: Tyler Sederwall/Brandon Harper, Ozarks Vocational School, Laurel, Miss. Utah; Anthony Collari, Blackstone Valley RVTHS, Technical Community College, Springfield, Mo.; Upton, Mass. POWER EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY: Brent Rebekah Ferreira/Elliot Thompson, River Valley Tech- MAJOR APPLIANCE AND REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGY: Ackerman, Alexandria (Minn.) Technical and Commu- nical Center, Springfield, Vt. T-SHIRT DESIGN: Rodolfo Aaron Fible, Kansas City Kansas Community College nity College; Tristan McReynolds, North Lamar High Montes, East Los Angeles Occupational Center; Alysia Technical Education Center; Alec Brown, Robert School, Paris, Texas PRACTICAL NURSING: Olena Koly- Zabaleta, Tucson (Ariz.) High School Morgan Educational Center, Miami MARINE SERVICE esnykova, State Fair Career and Technology Center, TECHNOLOGY: Daniel Cunningham, Wisconsin Indi- Sedalia, Mo.; Kellsie Kershaw, South Technical Educa- URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE: John Leraan/Leslie anhead Technical College, New Richmond, Wis.; Jame- tion Center, Boynton Beach, Fla. PRECISION MACHIN- Watson, Mid-Florida Technical Institute, Orlando; son Gauvin, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, ING TECHNOLOGY: Cale Johanning, Linn (Mo.) State Benjamin Lowit/Kyle Ridley, Lewiston (Maine) Harwich, Mass. MASONRY: Daniel Furr, Mount Pleas- Technical College; Danny Williamson, St. Clair County Regional Technical Center ant (N.C.) High School; Samuel McSherry, Burton Technical Education Center, Marysville, Mich. Center for Arts and Technology, Salem, Va. MECHA- PREPARED SPEECH: Amanda Balch, New England Insti- WEB DESIGN: Linda Gold/Mariel Jaramillo, Manatee TRONICS: Brad Sellner/Riley Samari, Alexandria tute of Technology, Warwick, R.I.; Leyna Tamaye, Milil- Technical Institute, Bradenton, Fla.; Blake Wilson/ (Minn.) Technical and Community College; Kurtis ani (Hawaii) High School PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEER- Dustin Griffie, Foothill High School, Henderson, Nev. Rickelmann/Drew Gary, Pinckney (Mich.) High School ING/TECHNOLOGY: Jorge Lopez, Texas State Technical WELDING: Curtiss Anderson, North Central Kansas MEDICAL ASSISTING: Ashley Koepping, Center of College – Waco; Michael Altavilla, Blackstone Valley Technical College, Beloit; Daniel Thoresen, San Luis Applied Technology South, Edgewater, Md.; Bryant RVTHS, Upton, Mass. PROMOTIONAL BULLETIN BOARD: Obispo (Calif.) High School WELDING FABRICATION: Bonaiuto, Shawsheen High School, Billerica, Mass. Sarah Wyssmann/Maria Lopez, Autry Technology (teams) Cuesta Community College, San Luis Obispo, MEDICAL MATH: Brittany Joyce, Wilkes Community Center, Enid, Okla.; Vanessa Roybal/Joy Sanchez, Milil- Calif.; Jackson River Technical Center, Covington, Va. College, Wilkesboro, N.C.; Jonathan Garaffa, Somerset ani (Hawaii) High School WELDING SCULPTURE: John Allen, Tennessee College of County Vocational and Technical High School, Bridge- Applied Technology – Oneida/Huntsville, Huntsville; water, N.J. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: Vladimyr Hilaire, QUIZ BOWL: (teams) Laramie County Community Zachary Watson, Tennessee College of Applied Tech- Southern Crescent Technical College, Griffin, Ga.; Jae College, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Neuqua Valley High School, nology – Oneida/Huntsville, Huntsville Hee Cho, Westwood High School, Austin, Texas Naperville, Ill. MOBILE ELECTRONICS INSTALLATION: Michael Alma- To see all gold, silver and bronze medalists, as guer, Slawson Southeast Occupational Center, Bell, RELATED TECHNICAL MATH: Matthew Cannon, Utah well as teams of three or more, visit: www. Calif.; Carlos Sotelo, Denver City (Texas) High School Valley University, Orem, Utah; Paige Stanley, Worces- skillsusa-register.org/rpts/EventMedalists.aspx •

Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 13 Celebrating

year

Since our 1965 founding, sked individually for one word that I feel that as long as you have passion and more than 750 students Abest describes being on the team, hard work, if you’re in SkillsUSA, you can many of this year’s ofﬁcers said accomplish great things.” have served as national “amazing.” Some said it was “exciting” Stephanie Wilburn, high school ofﬁcers. How does it feel to or “liberating.” Others felt “blessed” or secretary, says she looks forward to “privileged,” or even that the experience asking her own questions in the year be elected, especially during was “otherworldly.” But as the word cloud ahead, “connecting and networking with the 50th anniversary? above shows, “humbling” topped their list. all the members” to improve their own “I never imagined I’d get this far,” SkillsUSA experience. Amazing? Exciting? Yes, but explains Ahmad Shawwal, high school It’s a great start as SkillsUSA enters this year’s team is more president. “To see that I’ve come this far in a new half-century. As for that “other- a short time because of the opportunities worldly” response, who’s to say where we’ll likely to say it’s humbling. SkillsUSA has provided me is just amazing. be in 50 years? • — by E. Thomas Hall

14 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 Photos: Lloyd Wolf OUR FIRST NATIONAL OFFICER TEAM, 1965-66 (front row) president, Tommy Snider of Georgia; vice president, James Conner, Ohio; secretary, Shirley Frankiewicz, Illinois; treasurer, Priscilla Nicholau, Virginia; parliamentarian, John Fields, Florida; (back row) regional vice presidents James Weaver, Tennessee; Joseph Atkinson, Virginia; Peggy Glassford, Illinois; Jacob Castor, Oklahoma. That year, 29,062 students joined the organization from 26 states and territories.

50TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL OFFICER TEAM (PICTURED AT LEFT)

COLLEGE/POSTSECONDARY, FRONT ROW Robert Gomez, treasurer Brooke Johnson, president architecture and criminal justice business management Veterans Memorial High School, University of North Carolina at Asheville Brownsville, Texas

Shane Morrison, treasurer Ahmad Shawwal, president construction and computer-aided drafting robotics Autry Technology Center, Enid, Okla. Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center, Fredericksburg, Va. Alex Bruin, parliamentarian firefighting and paramedicine Dalton Crump, vice president Central Valley Institute of Technology, health science Coolidge, Ariz. West Caldwell High School, Lenoir, N.C.

Quinel Nabors, vice president Matthew Carder, Region 3 vice president information technology and networking pre-engineering and design technologies Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Ripley Upper Valley Career Center, Piqua, Ohio

Darlenne Helena, secretary Taylor Mackie, Region 1 vice president digital multimedia design design and visual communications Mid-Florida Tech, Orlando Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, South Easton, Mass.

Benjamin Miller, Region 2 vice president criminal justice HIGH SCHOOL, BACK ROW Hermitage Technical Center, Richmond, Va. Antonio Vargas, parliamentarian marketing, management and entrepreneurship Anastasia Hawkins, Region 4 vice president Norwich (Conn.) Technical High School automotive technology Shallowater (Texas) High School Stephanie Wilburn, secretary health careers Summer Diegel, Region 5 vice president Green Country Technology Center, nursing Okmulgee, Okla. Capital High School, Helena, Mont. Gear up for the 50th Anniversary in Louisville!

NEW SCHOOL YEAR, NEW CITY Great Things Ahead!

The 2014–2015 school year is a big one for SkillsUSA and the SkillsUSA -tore.

The team at the SkillsUSA -tore has been working hard to bring you exciting new products. Retail brands that you’ll want to get your hands on, the latest “must-have” tech gadgets, and memorable 50th Anniversary products you’ll be proud to show off. Begin your celebration now and show your SkillsUSA pride!

Check back throughout the year as we gear up for the exciting journey to the 51st NLSC in Louisville] Kentucky!

Visit www.skillsusastore.com. From leading a On the parade to taking the wheel for his students, this energetic advisor has been running circles around others for RoadOf Life’s Adventures three decades By E. Thomas Hall

hen recently putting together a photo album on his career, WMark Sponaugle included a quote by Confucius: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And, as he added, “We never know who we will encounter as we take each step of the journey, but no matter where the journey takes you, life is an adventure!” That’s a great way to summarize his 34 years in education, 27 of them with SkillsUSA. For this Advisor of the Year, everything seems to relate to a journey, whether it’s planning a road trip to the state competition for 70 students and teachers, or organizing the annual holiday parade that winds through the town of Carthage, Mo., drawing 500 onlookers. Photo: Lloyd Wolf Lloyd Photo: And then there’s the student he taught to Sponaugle receives the drive — “Cost me a hubcap before it was Advisor of the Year award at SkillsUSA’s national conference. WEB RESOURCES said and done,” he laughs — so she could leave the confines of a sad home situation h Find out more about the 2014 finalists and get a good job in New York. “That’s at: www.skillsusa.org/membership- the important part: It’s the students that resources/awards/advisors-of-the-year/ you work with,” adds Sponaugle, whose job title is vocational resource educator h This award is organized by SkillsUSA’s state association directors and spon- but who prefers to be called a counselor. sored annually by Cengage Learning. For the past 23 years, Sponaugle has You can nominate someone through your also served as a state district advisor for state SkillsUSA director; find the contact information at: www.skillsusa.org/about/ 11 schools involved in SkillsUSA. He state-directors/ chairs the state Opening and Closing Ceremonies competition and serves on the national education team for that event.

Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 17 Sponaugle (third from left) gets into the spirit of the town’s annual parade, which is organized by his school’s SkillsUSA chapter.

Taking students out of their element Another crowd-pleaser is his version of Photo provided by Mark Sponaugle. Used with permission. by Mark Sponaugle. Photo provided Boxing Day, based on a British tradition in which the wealthy trade places with their servants. “It’s a dress-up party, and we had 103 of our members come to that The chapter at Carthage Technical and dancers, “We have probably anywhere a year ago,” Sponaugle says. The teachers Center is approaching 38 years of organiz- from 50 to 60 entries every year. I’m the purchase and serve the food to the ing the parade, the last 18 as the sole host, lead advisor; I have 11 more advisors or students, who may be exposed to a formal so SkillsUSA is closely associated with it. career-tech programs that are involved in place setting for the first time. “Usually, we get a great advertisement SkillsUSA. Every teacher shows up. I have Sponaugle favors such excursions that on the front of the paper — ‘SkillsUSA kids from every program.” take students out of their element: “That Christmas parade’ — and then they cover The SkillsUSA chapter officers carry you can take kids out of Jasper County, the front page and the back page with the banner to lead the parade. Sixty to out of Carthage, and experience some- pictures,” says Sponaugle (pronounced 70 students are directly involved, from thing else, that’s a strong thing.” spon-AU-gle). Local businesses stay open blocking off streets to selecting the grand He remembers taking some students late on the courthouse square for this start marshal to picking out the annual theme. to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Kansas City. of the holiday shopping season. “We have a requirement [for student The restaurant staff “had to get sport “It’s a great opportunity. Our kids love participation],” Sponaugle notes. “They coats out of the closet for them to wear. it, and it’s fun; it’s so exciting,” he adds. have to be able to drive, because they have Before the dinner was over, a girl had With the floats, marching bands, horses to go pick up the Santa suit.” ordered fish, and it came with the head

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18 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 Photo: Lloyd Wolf Lloyd Photo:

and the tail. She got so upset, she hit the plate and knocked the fish to the floor. “We all had a good laugh, and I said, ‘Well, we’re tourists and we’re on holiday — it’s all part of the plan.’ And so I think REGIONAL ADVISORS OF THE YEAR any time you get students involved, that’s what it’s about. That’s the bottom line. Four dedicated SkillsUSA advisors were also nominated for Advisor of the Year. It’s the students and their future and what Starting at left, Tobin Prinsen of Apollo Career Center in Lima, Ohio, has they can get out of it.” trained a national champion and many state and regional officers, including Sponaugle has made quite a journey of his own daughter. He’s also a school board president. At Central Kitsap High his own in the past year. He lost over 200 School in Silverdale, Wash., James Adamson has had SkillsUSA state champions pounds after gastric bypass surgery and for every one of his 16 years as an advisor. He’s taught students how to write had knee-replacement surgery. their own grant applications for resources. The infectious enthusiasm of Ellen I’m thrilled,” he says. “I feel like I have Coughlin has boosted SkillsUSA’s community service element in Norwich, N.Y., two birthdays now. My surgery date for the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educa- was July 11 for the gastric bypass, and tional Services. Her personality has helped draw more industry into the state’s somebody told me the other day, ‘Oh, championships and improved its leadership conferences. There’s a waiting list you’ll be able to run a marathon.’ to get into James Dinsmoor’s class at Rockdale Career Academy in Conyers, Ga. “It’ll be nice to have the option. I don’t In just six years, his program has launched many students’ successful careers see it happening, but it’ll be nice to,” he and earned more SkillsUSA awards than any other at the state conference. • adds with a smile. • The last graduation cap they’ll ever need.

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Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 19 By Ann P. Schreiber graphic design to masonry and business ‘A great confidence booster’ administration. What he’s learned about Case grew up in a Cherokee-speaking he written word starts with images and his native Cherokee syllabary language, home where the written language wasn’t Tcharacters being shared, understood which uses characters to represent passed on. He started working on his and repeated. These evolve into alpha- syllables, could fill a book. Actually, it did. first book while taking care of his elderly bets and words. Words become written He grew interested in syllabary language mother, who never had the opportunity to language. With written language comes at 18. Based in Yokosuka, Japan, as a U.S. learn the written language. literacy, and with literacy comes learning. Navy corpsman, getting around was hard Prior to the introduction of their sylla- Marc Case never stops learning. He’s without knowing the Japanese symbols. bary language by Sequoya in 1821, the studied everything from nursing and (Cellphone translators didn’t exist yet.) Cherokee people could not communicate through the written word. “At the turn of the century between Always learning something new the 1800s and 1900s,” Case adds, “a lot of natives’ kids were put into boarding A love of language and heritage schools, and they were forced to only speak English, to read and write English restores a unique form of writing and to go to church. The goal was to assimilate the natives into American culture, and so those children were not allowed to teach their children their language or the culture or anything about Cherokee.” Publishers were reluctant to pick up his book, telling him it wasn’t scholarly enough. That’s the point, he explains; the publication is designed for fast, simple assimilation regardless of age or exposure. Case decided to self-publish. His works are now available on his website and through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. During a period of personal struggle for Case, a counselor suggested he go back

Photo: Lloyd Wolf Lloyd Photo: to school. Using his veteran’s benefits, he signed up for the masonry program at Tulsa Technology Center’s Lemley In Cherokee, “SkillsUSA” After leaving the Navy, Case enrolled in Campus, learned about SkillsUSA and a licensed practical nurse (LPN) program became involved in its Pin Design contest. looks like: in his hometown of Tahlequah, Okla., Case, who earned a national silver medal Author Marc Case has only to be recalled during Operation this year in the college/postsecondary Desert Storm. He eventually earned a division, has enjoyed the visual arts since recaptured bachelor’s degree in business administra- elementary school. This interest led to the written tion at Northeastern State University. him running a T-shirt design and screen- Working with the Veteran’s Administra- printing business. language of tion, Case was sent back to Japan and the “Winning second place in a competi- base where he’d been stationed before. tion on a national level against bright and the Cherokee This tour, he says, was like watching a talented students is a great confidence with publi- movie for the second time. He saw things booster,” he says. “Having the support and he missed on the first trip. The similari- confidence of my advisor and classmates cations that ties between the Cherokee and Japanese made me believe in myself and my ability. make it simple languages became obvious. “Winning has motivated me to continue Returning home, he wrote a book, Let’s my education in website design and apply to learn the language of Learn Cherokee: Syllabary. While other myself to a greater extent this upcoming his people. Always willing publications address the 84-character school year. Being involved in SkillsUSA Cherokee syllabary, Case’s technique is a great honor and wonderful learning to try something new, he incorporated the method he used to experience.” • learned to read and write Japanese. He’s never stops learning. since written Let’s Learn Cherokee: Numbers Learn more about Case’s publications and Counting and developed flashcards. at: www.simplycherokee.com.

20 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 School of Westampton. TechnologySchool in County at Burlington year fourth his in of age 8.He’s the since now loved cooking Foggy Ea young.” old toanybody, and inspiration You’re you. around being an food, clearly your I enjoyed tosay eating want just “I Freitag. Amanda chef/restaurateur judges, one of pastry,” the said puff undercooked of toapiece down it came you, to tell Ihave and competition, close incredibly ‘chopped.’ get I probably will t ” In don’t through, cook pastries puff these “If trouble: in hewas acknowledged and oven the checked Foggy progressed, round 30-minute the As pastry. puff and cream ice toinclude taste.”He decided stinky cheesy, that it offset apple would compote Iadded it if toan Ithought “but August, in aired which finale, competition on the Th unfazed. —he was cheese “stinky” and crickets the with dessert show —that onthe challenge final his with faced was page) the next on and cover our on (pictured when Foggy So gingersnaps. gluten-free and dumplings Chinese chicken, fried of pan- joys the about converse who can kitchen the in pros seasoned already are 17 New Jersey, both from and Aronson, St baskets.” “mystery in ingredients odd sometimes out of the meal course three- atasty, making premise: its stood under- tournament, teen program’s first the who, in members SkillsUSA for the But it sense. did any not make may recipe this Food Network, onthe airs which If yo crickets. chocolate-covered these include finally, bad. really smells Wait stuff —this Vacherin cheese. some Montin d’Or soft doughnuts. jelly few cappuccino. mocha frozen “D out of second 16. in —coming he was Y ‘MAKING THECUT’ udents Dante Foggy and Max Max and Foggy Dante udents rlier in the five-part tournament, tournament, five-part the in rlier ante, this was a close and I mean Imean and aclose was this ante, e cheese was “disgusting,” he said he said “disgusting,” was e cheese u’re not a fan of TV’s “Chopped,”u’re of TV’s not afan three celebrity chefs. Start with with Start chefs. celebrity three impress even would that dessert adelicious Create assignment: our (sounds like “fogey”) like “fogey”) (sounds What!? Sounds good. shared how he’s how shared Check. Throw Add a a Add And he end, end, he

Photo: Lloyd Wolf culinary arts programs. arts culinary stardom —through bond —and ataste of him find acommon He and young chefs like Aronson. Max life,” says passion for my entire “Cooking has been my B Y E. T HOMAS H ALL “When I was in sixth or seventh grade, open the [mystery] basket, but all of the my mom taught me how to cook big meals ingredients that you see on TV are the and I loved it,” Foggy says. He entered first time that we’re seeing it. So opening the culinary arts program after seeing the basket, that reaction is very genuine.” the success of its pastry chef instructor, In an interview on the Food Network Jesmary Sbraga, and her husband, Kevin, website, Foggy remembers being on the who won TV’s “Iron Chef” competi- second episode: “People say time goes fast. tion (and was featured in this magazine’s It does, and it also feels that the kitchen Winter 2011 issue; go to: www.skillsusa.org/ is smaller than what you see on TV. You success-stories/kevin-sbraga/). really have to be careful when you go behind somebody. I almost got cut like six Serving others, and not only with food times by someone running behind me.” Max Aronson wound up on “Chopped” Aronson was bested in the third episode after meeting host Ted Allen at an airport. by the same student who eventually edged “I just struck up a conversation with out Foggy. She won a $25,000 cash prize him. I gave him my business card and he and $40,000 culinary-school scholarship. said that I should apply for the TV show,” Foggy, who trained hard with Jesmary says the fourth-year student at Bergen Sbraga and his culinary instructor, County Academies in Hackensack. Timothy Witcher, was disappointed but The SkillsUSA New Jersey student gracious. “I was that close to winning all president has his own businesses includ- that money and changing my life, but she Carving out a win ing Game of Cones, whipping up custom won, she deserved to win, and I’m very in a culinary contest ice-cream flavors in people’s homes. Cakes happy for her,” he said as the show ended. to the Max also offers his creations, which Foggy also competed in the SkillsUSA oing from last place at his state can look like anything from a cheese- Championships program, winning his GSkillsUSA competition one year burger to the famous Manhattan skyline. state event in Job Skill Demonstration. to first place the next, Chris Symonds He and Foggy stayed in a New York Interviewed at the nationals in June, he gets another gold for not giving up. hotel for the April taping of the show, says he’s still looking for scholarships to After the 2013 Culinary Arts event which “didn’t feel as much of a competi- study culinary arts at Johnson & Wales in Massachusetts, the gold medal- tion as it was just like a fun thing to do,” University. His ultimate goal, however, ist advised Symonds that if he really Aronson says. “I mean, hearing from kids is to become a pastor. Foggy volunteers wanted to win, he needed to get a who also live for food as much as I do is so at a kitchen that serves the homeless and job in the industry first. Symonds unusual, because I’m usually the one who’s needy families, and someday, he’d like to started working at a country club, like, ‘Oh my gosh, food!’ ” touch others’ lives through his cooking. then at one of Boston’s top restau- “There’s definitely a little bit of ‘movie “I want to be a chef first, because right rants. In 2014, he went back to the magic’ that they do,” he adds. “We had now the opportunities are coming to me state competition — and won. to do a bunch of takes just pretending to very fast,” he explains. • Moving on to the national championships was a dream he’d had Foggy, shown at the SkillsUSA Championships, shares more about “Chopped” at: http:// since middle school, when Symonds tinyurl.com/DanteFoggy. His identical twin, Darius, aspires to be a biomedical engineer. first toured Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington. “To be here is good enough for me,” Symonds said during nationals. “If I win, then that’s great. But, I think the real message about SkillsUSA is that it doesn’t matter if you’re first in your competition or if you’re 50th, you’re all good enough, and you’ve made it far enough, and you should just have fun with it.” Symonds, whose father, William, is project director of Harvard Uni- versity’s “Pathways to Prosperity” initiative, is carving out his own bright future. With a new arsenal of skills, he plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

— By Ann P. Schreiber • Wolf Lloyd (Symonds) Janet Cantore-Watson; (Fogey) Photos:

22 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 goldstandard

A Degree of Achievement That’s Especially Sweet

Even in a place that’s famous for its chocolate, childhood taunts can make a person feel bitter. Not this SkillsUSA award winner, whose recent honors are just the topping on a life well served.

t’s not every day — or year, actually — Later at the conference, Brunk received Ithat someone meets the requirements his degree before an audience of thou- for SkillsUSA’s highest individual honor. sands and, in recognition of making Joshua Brunk is the latest to be awarded significant strides in his profession and the International Degree, the pinnacle of community, was also honored as outstand- the Professional Development Program. ing SkillsUSA alumni member for 2014. Brunk’s achievement highlights 12 “Had you met me 12 years ago, I’d be years of SkillsUSA involvement, from hiding in the corner, not wanting to do student member to state officer to chapter anything,” he remembers. Before going to co-advisor. He also serves his state and the residential boarding school, “I didn’t national alumni associations. have a bad life, but I wasn’t able to do a lot “SkillsUSA is my life, and it’s been the of the activities and things back at home, best thing that’s ever happened to me,” and then also having different disabilities says the Hershey, Pa., resident. After didn’t help me in other sports and stuff. graduating from the Milton Hershey “I have cerebral palsy,” he points out. “I School, which serves low-income students, also have a mild to moderate hearing loss, he now works there. With another job and I am visually impaired in my right at the Hershey corporate visitors center, eye. Put all those three together, and some Brunk puts in around 60 hours per week. people would make fun of me growing up. To meet the degree requirements, he But I used my experiences in SkillsUSA to had to start on the documentation about let that just roll off my shoulders.” two years ago. He submitted it to his state Advisor Michael DeAcosta “showed me Photo: Lloyd Wolf Lloyd Photo: SkillsUSA association and the national what SkillsUSA could do, and I took full headquarters — “I had to redo the paper advantage of everything that it offered, By E. Thomas Hall several times, but it got done,” he says — from leadership to contests. I could be and ended the process with an interview at around other people who didn’t care the national conference in June. what I was like. I was able to show that I In his presentation, Brunk drew on was a leader in my field of study and in experience as a food service coordinator SkillsUSA, and that’s all that matters. at Hershey’s Chocolate World. With a “It’s amazing that people look at people focus on safety and sanitation, “I made with disabilities sometimes, that they can’t Hershey’s Chocolate Barbecue Chicken do anything. Well, I’m on the top of my Pizza in front of the judges,” he says. world right now.” •

Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 23 toolbox

Make the ‘Golden Rule’ Rule Customer Service

e’ve all experienced bad customer Wservice before: pushy salesmen, apathetic waitresses, rude technical “support specialists.” One good thing about those experiences, though, is that they can teach you how not to behave if the roles ever become reversed. As a class, split into two groups. Ask each group member to share a personal customer service “horror story.” Next, discuss ways in which the issue could’ve been better handled, and write some of those ideas down. Once each group member has shared, review your notes. Are there any common themes that apply to all situations? What are they? Reunite as a full class and compare your ﬁndings. For more ideas on this topic, check out Photo: Lloyd Wolf Lloyd Photo: SkillsUSA’s Customer Service Training Program, which trains students online through virtual scenarios on practical The golden rule for every businessman is customer service skills. Find it at: www. this: put yourself in your customer’s place. skillsusa.org/store/workplace.html. • — ORISON SWETT MARDEN

Find the photo, win a prize No, the picture on the left isn’t abstract art. It’s actually a distorted part of another photo in this issue. Find the original photo and send us the page number where it appears to win a SkillsUSA sport duffel bag (ﬁrst prize) or travel mug (second prize). To enter, email your answer, name, address and phone number to: [email protected] (include “Photo Contest” in the subject line). Or, send to: SkillsUSA Photo Contest, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. One ﬁrst- and one second-prize winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries. Entries must be received by Nov. 15. Congratulations to last issue’s winners: Amanda MacFarlane of Savannah, Texas, and Fazila Sunbal of Alexandria, Va. •

24 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 spotlight

NEW LIFE COMES He fosters dignity among kids TO A CEMETERY n 2012, Alex St. Pierre and his mother started an organization to provide ONCE NEGLECTED Ibackpacks to foster children in transition. Known as Bags of Dignity, it collects these backpacks and fills them with personal items. fter finding a grave marker in the As a member of a host family, St. Pierre was inspired to take action after Atrash at a South Jordan, Utah, watching foster children arrive with what little they had stored in trash bags. cemetery, Stephanie Jencks was moved A graduate of Regional Career and Technical Center at Coventry (R.I.) to restore respect to the plots. For a Girl High School, St. Pierre has enlisted the help of local businesses to serve as Scout project, Jencks began by research- drop-off sites for the backpacks. Working with the state’s Department of ing cemetery records. Unable to find Children, Youth and plot identifications, she decided to make Families, the organiza- headstones that read “Unknown but tion has collected nearly Loved.” Jencks, Bingham High School’s 600 backpacks to date. SkillsUSA vice president, enlisted fellow To learn more about members to help pour 130 markers. Visit: St. Pierre’s project, visit: www.binghamcemetery.com/unknown-but- bagsofdignity.tumblr.com or loved. See a news clip: www.kutv.com/news/ follow Bags of Dignity on features/inside-story/stories/vid_25.shtml. • Used with permission. Pierre. Alex St. Photo: Facebook.•

Honoring those who’ve served “Heart for Heroes” at York (Pa.) Photo: Lori Jencks. Used with permission. Jencks. Lori Photo: County School of Technology

honored men and women who .

have served in the U.S. armed

of Technology

School forces. Students Susana Marte,

County

permission. who has enlisted in the Air Force,

York

with Stephanie Jencks with grave marker.

Photo: Anisa Diaczun and Kaitlyn Lunger Used

If you text, you’ll be next developed and presented the event, which included appearances by the honor Law enforcement/criminal justice students at Bay-Arenac Career Center guard of the school’s protective services program and by the Kiltie Band of in Bay City, Mich., arranged to have a driving simulator brought to their school York (above, right). Teacher Travis Landis also recounted his experi-eri to show students how dangerous texting ences as an Army sergeant serving in Iraq. and driving can be. To further share the message, they attended a trauma sympo- Veterans who attended the event also received thank-you sium and recorded a radio public service announcement. • coins (right) made by the school’s metal fabrication class. •

Fall 2014 SkillsUSA Champions 25 image

killsUSA Champions features our members’ photography. We’re looking for images of SkillsUSA chapters in action, or ones that Sshow individual members’ concentration or perseverance. For details, email [email protected] (put “Image Photo” in the subject header) or write SkillsUSA Champions, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176. The photographer’s chapter is awarded $150. •

Wisconsin’s Automated Manufacturing Technology high-school team — Nicholas Quandt, David Butts and Evan Yoakum — anticipates the competition results with advisor Jesse Domer at SkillsUSA’s national conference. (Inset: being announced as the winners seconds later.) Photographer Lauri Domer captured their reactions. Photos: Lauri Domer Photos: Are you “built for it”? I believe you are. … It is My campaign slogan was “I Can Make a Difference.” an honor and a privi- lege for Caterpillar to I still am in contact with many of the friends I made be sponsoring your while participating with VICA, now called SkillsUSA. … 50th conference and I know now, thanks to my experience, I can and have the opening ceremony. made a difference. Cameron Ferguson of Jeanna Gallien, elected as a student to regional office in 1991, Caterpillar Inc. addresses is a change management specialist for Ohio’s attorney general SkillsUSA members

26 SkillsUSA Champions Fall 2014 WITH 50 SOLID YEARS BEHIND US, SUPPORT OUR AMBITIOUS STEPS FORWARD.

urchaseurch your own custom-engraved P paverr forf the walkway of SkillsUSA’s National LeadershipL Center. Commemorate your SSkillkillsUSAls experience or honor a cherished mentor and become part of SkillsUSA forever. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of empowering our members to become world-class workers, leaders SkillsUSA’s National Leadership Center and responsible American citizens, here’s your chance to help us build for the future, brick by brick. is located in Leesburg, Virginia, approximately 50 miles northwest of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Choose the brick-pricing category that best showcases The building houses the SkillsUSA staff and historical your commitment to SkillsUSA: displays. Along with welcoming influential visitors such Corporations / State Associations $500 as industry executives, manufacturers and VIPs from Individual Adult $100 Individual Student $50 education and government, it has meeting space for student, teacher and business conferences. To purchase your paver and to learn more about this perpetual campaign, please visit: www.skillsusa.org/store/pavers

Paver Campaign Partner For more information, please contact Christen Battaglia at [email protected] or call 703-737-0627. If you hold it up to your ear, you can hear America working.

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