OTC technical education students brought home 40 medals from the recent SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference. The competition was hosted virtually this year in the wake of COVID-19.
More than 50 OTC students competed against hundreds of technical education students from across the state. Competitors showcased their skills by completing written and filmed tests in categories such as automotive refinishing, culinary arts, technical drafting and welding fabrication.
“Our instructors and students really stepped up to try this new, virtual format,” said Cindy Phillips, coordinator of high school technical education programs. “Even though it was different this year, our students really excelled, and I’m proud of all our competitors.”
SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations.
OTC’s secondary and post-secondary winners from the state competition are listed below. First-place winners are eligible to advance to the SkillsUSA National Championships, which will be held virtually in June.
OTC SkillsUSA State Winners
| Advertising Design | Cooper Boyce | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting | Shannon Buffington | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting | Cody Wallen | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting | Austin Calvin | 3rd | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting IT | Jill Burrow | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting IT | Cody Wallen | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting IT | Shannon Buffington | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting IT | Austin Calvin | 3rd | Post-Secondary |
| Intro to Drafting IT | Eric Fausto | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Intro to Drafting IT | Reza Gilman | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Technical Drafting | Eric Fausto | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Technical Drafting | Reza Gilman | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Automotive Refinishing | Kameron Kivett | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Collision Repair IT | Kameron Kivett | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Collision Repair Technology | Teofil Iacob | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Automotive Service | Tanner Wells | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Computer Programming | Isaac Kirk | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Computer Programming | Aaron Young | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Web Design | Nylah Rogers | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Web Design | Elizabeth Carroll | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Digital Cinema Production | Charles Robertson | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Digital Cinema Production | Thomas Gadd | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Computer Networking IT | Lance Garrison | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Computer Repair IT | Gabriel Hamlet | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Computer Repair IT | Logan Valentine | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Computer Repair IT | Kolby Crisp | 3rd | Post-Secondary |
| Internetworking | Lance Garrison | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| IT Services | Logan Valentine | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| IT Services | Kolby Crisp | 2nd | Post-Secondary |
| Telecommunications Cabling | Gabriel Hamlet | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Diesel Equipment IT | Nikolas Monteiro | 1st | Post-Secondary |
| Architectural Drafting IT | Corban Fouse | 1st | Secondary |
| Automotive Refinishing | John Yudin | 2nd | Secondary |
| Automotive Service | Luke Bryant | 2nd | Secondary |
| Commercial Baking | Ashley Elrod | 3rd | Secondary |
| Computer Programming | Jacob Angel | 1st | Secondary |
| Early Childhood IT | Payton Beeler | 2nd | Secondary |
| HVACR | Andrea Bardot | 2nd | Secondary |
| Television Production IT | Nora Powell | 1st | Secondary |
| Television Production IT | Andrew Robinson | 1st | Secondary |
| Television Production IT | Logan Coble | 3rd | Secondary |