CACTC STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL IN COMPETITION
CACTC students successful in competition
CONNELLSVILLE – More than 20 Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) students will take part in state competition following their placing first in local Skills USA contests.
“It was a very successful year,” said Kayla Daniels, CACTC teacher of the student’s achievements.
“Students that place first in local competition are then eligible to compete at the state level and if they are successful there and achieve a first-place ranking they can go on to compete at the national level,” said Daniels.
Fifty six CACTC students took part in the two-day competitions.
The first-place winners included Christopher Jenkinds, speech preparation; Fred Lowry, auto collision repair; Kyle Burkholder, auto refinishing repair; Alexandria McKnight, basic health care; Donald Chearney, HVAC; Francis Wilson and Marian Chearney, action skills; William Coleflesh, sheet metal; Tonya Hixson, nurse assisting; Jarod Reese, Steven Whipkey, Donald Fisch, Bradley Dean, Cody Fullem and Shane Geary, chapter business procedure team; Katelynne Switzer, Meagan Nicholson, Bobbie Sue Harshman, Emily Wingrove, Kyli Breakiron, Kelsey Hodgekiss and Christa Nicholson, opening and closing team.
Daniels said several other students placed second and third in their respective competitions. First-place winners will travel to Hershey in April.
for statewide competition.
According to CACTC student Christopher Jenkins, all students were eligible to take part in the annual contest.
“A list is circulated and if you want to compete, you sign up,” he said.
Jenkins, a HVAC program student took part in the and will be representing CACTC at the state level in April.
In the CACTC culinary arts classroom, students were displaying their creativity by decorating cakes.
Judge Courtney Certo watched as the nine contestants carefully added detail to their respective baked goods.
“We look at their skills, from start to finish,” she said, adding that the students additionally were required to make different pastries and cookies. “They are very good.”
In the auto collision repair competition, students had to complete two tasks, said CACTC teacher Karl Butchko, including the repair of a dented car panel and several types of welds.
“They were all given a similar minor dent and they had to repair it to its original shape and finish,” said Butchko. “In the second competition, the students had to complete several welds.
“The judges were looking for penetration of the weld, the appearance and the safety measures taken during the competitions.”
Despite his more than 25 years, Butchko said he continues to be anxious as his collision repair students compete.
“It is exciting to watch,” he said. “Some of my past students still talk about it when I run into them. A win in one of these competitions looks very good on a resume.”