Published Tuesday, April 12th, 2022
WSC students competed in the Nebraska state conference competition April 7-9 in Grand Island, with five students qualifying for nationals.
Wayne State College students earned 13 medals when the chapter competed at the 2022 SkillsUSA Nebraska State Leadership and Skills Conference competition held April 7-9 at the state fairgrounds in Grand Island. Five WSC students qualified for the national SkillsUSA competition to be held June 20-24 in Atlanta.
SkillsUSA is committed to all technical trade skills, to assist local members in their growth and development, to create enthusiasm and a sincere interest in and esteem for trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations. The SkillsUSA programs include local, regional, state, and national competitions. During the annual national level SkillsUSA Championships, students compete in hands-on skill and leadership contests.
The Wayne State winners (name, hometown, major, and competition award):
- Chris Todd of Holstein, Iowa, Skilled and Technical Sciences Education: First Place in Cabinetmaking (National Qualifier)
- Morgan Bird of Bennington, Neb., Industrial Technology and Construction Management and Safety Management (minor): First Place in Job Interview (National Qualifier)
- Krystin Aschoff of Hastings, Neb., Middle Level Education 5-9 and Skilled and Technical Sciences Education (with supplemental endorsement in work-based learning and math content area): First Place in Related Technical Math (National Qualifier)
- Alexzi Nottlemann of Bancroft, Neb., Criminal Justice: First Place in First Aid/CPR (National Qualifier)
- Sarahi Lopez of South Sioux City, Neb., Skilled and Technical Sciences Education, and Zach Covington of Papillion, Neb., Skilled and Technical Sciences Education: First Place in Additive Manufacturing (National Qualifier)
- Krystin Aschoff of Hastings, Neb., Middle Level Education 5-9 and Skilled and Technical Sciences Education (with supplemental endorsement in work-based learning and math content area): First Place in Architectural Blueprint Reading
- Rhegan Jensen of Boelus, Neb., Chemistry/Health Sciences and Criminal Justice; Emma Wilkinson of Battle Creek, Neb., Criminal Justice and Political Science; and Emily Montenegro of West Point, Neb., Criminal Justice: Second Place in Crime Scene Investigation
- Nathan Blizzard of Omaha, Neb., Mass Communication/Digital Film Production and Theatre, and Blake Bodlak of Ponca, Neb., Mass Communication/Digital Film Production and Theatre: Second Place Digital Cinema Production
- Ryan Zoucha of Malcolm, Neb., Skilled and Technical Sciences Education (with supplemental endorsement in coaching): Third Place in Architectural Drafting
“We are very proud of our students and their accomplishments at SkillsUSA,” said Dr. Anne Power, Dean of the School of Business and Technology. “Wayne State College is committed to educating students in a variety of technical, personal, and workplace skills. Many of the students who competed will be future educators in the skilled and technical sciences.”
“We are especially proud of the performance from Wayne State freshmen Zach Covington and Sarahi Lopez. It is a testament to their high school preparation and what they have already learned here at Wayne State College in our industrial technology education and skilled and technical sciences education classes,” said Greg Vander Weil, assistant professor of skilled and technical sciences education and advisor of the WSC SkillsUSA chapter. “This win was big for them and our programs. Both students are skilled and technical sciences education majors, and their future students will be learning from outstanding teachers who not only compete well, but will transfer their knowledge and skills to their students.”
The SkillsUSA organization helps students develop personal skills such as integrity, work ethic, professionalism, responsibility, adaptability, flexibility, self-motivation. Students involved also gain communication, decision making, teamwork, multicultural sensitivity and awareness, planning, organizing and management and leadership skills.