April 9, 2004

Boise State Students Win In Statewide Skills-USA Competition

Twelve professional-technical education students from the Selland College of Applied Technology at Boise State University earned medals — including five gold medals — at the state SkillsUSA competition April 1-2 in Boise. The gold medal winners will compete at the SkillsUSA National Championships in Kansas City, Mo., in June. More than 500 students from high schools and colleges throughout the state competed for medals in the Idaho competition held at Boise State University, Gowen Field and other Treasure Valley locations. They competed in categories including extemporaneous speech, prepared speech, related technical math, customer service and job interview. There were also about 40 technical skills competitions, including collision repair, commercial baking, culinary arts, computer maintenance technology, precision machining, internetworking, electronics and welding. The competitions are eight hours in length and test the students’ abilities in their technical fields. The contests are organized, administered and judged by volunteers from industry. Here are Boise State’s winners: Eli St. Germaine, silver, collision repair; Nathan McGregor, gold, computer maintenance technology; Steve Nelson, silver, computer maintenance technology; James Kater, gold, culinary arts; David Scheets, bronze, culinary arts; Steve Nelson, silver, customer service; Mike Martin, gold, diesel technology; Darren Stevens, gold, electronics; Chris Kirk, bronze, internetworking; Rocky Colton, bronze, precision machining; Darren Stevens, gold, related technical math; Cyndi Parent, silver, technical drafting. SkillsUSA-VICA is an organization dedicated to providing quality education experiences in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development for students currently enrolled in professional-technical education programs. The competition provides high school and college students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in “real world” applications and to be honored for excellence. The national competition is a multi-million dollar event that occupies a space equivalent to eight football fields. This year there will be more than 4,000 contestants in 75 separate events. Nearly 1,500 judges and contest organizers from labor and management will make the national event possible. -30- Contact Dave Sperry College of Applied Technology 426-2541 dsperry@boisestate.edu Media contact Sherry Squires communications and marketing 426-1563 ssquires@boisestate.edu