For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The 49th annual State SkillsUSA Leadership & Skills Conference competition was held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, April 4–5, and Mid-State Technical College students again earned top awards in their respective events at the showcase of career and technical education students. Mid-State sent 17 students to the competition from the advanced manufacturing, transportation, criminal justice, automotive and diesel programs, with 12 of them bringing home medals.

The 2022 state conference featured more than 1,800 middle and high school students, more than 200 teachers and over 300 industry volunteers working in more than 80 competitions. Competitions were conducted in a wide array of skill sets, including Architectural Drafting/CAD, Automotive Service Technology, Cabinetmaking, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Masonry, Robotics and Automation, Welding, Woodworking, and dozens more.

Winning gold medals were Brittany Beahm, Montello, in Criminal Justice; Ryan Ganser, Stevens Point, in Precision Machining; Callie Luebke, Stevens Point, in Welding Sculpture; Jakob Struble, Amherst, in Related Technical Math; and Dawson Taylor, Marshfield, in CNC Milling Technician. All gold medalists earn the chance to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.

Three students took silver medals: Elliot Schmoll, Plover, in Criminal Justice; Josh Levoy, Marshfield, in CNC Turning Technician; and Sam Karl, Auburndale, in Precision Machining. Earning bronze were Wyatt Lutz, Stevens Point, Cabinet Making and a three-person team competing in Welding Fabrication: Clay Fitzpatrick, Nekoosa; Mason Hill, Arpin; and Justin Kells, Wisconsin Rapids.

“It is always exciting seeing students grow and develop as technicians and leaders through competition,” said Scott Engel, Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician instructor at Mid-State. “We are always proud of our students’ accomplishments and success.”

“As a new advisor for a program participating for the very first time, SkillsUSA was a fantastic experience for my students,” said Mid-State Criminal Justice Instructor Mike Topness. “Students got a chance to showcase their knowledge, and I believe it built confidence in their abilities as students got to compete in front of industry experts and learned that they are prepared to perform in the field at a high level. I am excited to participate and introduce more students to the competition moving forward.”