Students from Ramona Unified School District demonstrated high-level job skills at the 2022 state and national SkillsUSA contests, with many of them earning top medals.
SkillsUSA is a student organization that supports training in career and technical education subjects. The national nonprofit holds competitions that help prepare students for the workforce.
Students who competed in regional contests in January completed written exams and online tasks in a virtual format. Those who achieved the highest scores at regionals advanced to the California SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference held in person April 21-24 at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario.
Top-performing students at the state SkillsUSA contests advanced to the National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Atlanta from June 20-24.
Ramona High School took 12 students to the state conference. The following is a list of their rankings:
Power Equipment Technology: GracieLynn Jordison won a Gold Medal and Steven Tucker won a Silver Medal.
Automotive Service Technology: Charlie Dilts won a Gold Medal in the college level category and Riley Johnson placed Sixth.
Commercial Baking: Mycah Mendoza won a Silver Medal.
Motorcycle Service Technology: Zack Stene won a Silver Medal and Conolly Pavlic placed fifth.
Engineering Technology/Design Team: Avalon Shelton, Hannah Damm and Austin Brown placed fifth.
Diesel Equipment Technology: Michael Populin placed ninth.
Maintenance and Light Repair (automotive): Blake Curry placed 11th.
Ramona High’s state Gold Medal winner, GracieLynn Jordison, represented California in the National SkillsUSA conference.
At nationals, GracieLynn was 11th place in the Power Equipment Technology category. Her contest consisted of 12 different workstations, electrical troubleshooting, precision measuring, 2 and 4 stroke engine running stations, transaxle service, written tests, fuel injection service and mechanical repairs.
State Gold Medal winner Charlie Dilts did not attend the SkillsUSA national conference because he was accepting a Don Diego Scholarship at the San Diego County Fair.
“The students show up and give their best effort,” said Robert Grace, a Ramona High automotive teacher who joined engineering teacher Christine Hill and culinary arts teacher Laurie Ivers as SkillsUSA advisers. “It was great to have the kids go to a contest again and get together with other kids instead of competing virtually.”
Montecito High School construction students also competed at the state and national levels.
Among state competitors were two Teamworks teams who placed in first and second in the Teamworks category. The students built a small structure that incorporated framing, steel studs, masonry, plumbing and electrical.
Gold Medal Teamworks winners were Erick Violeta, Austin Fung and Kaleb Koeberlien, all 2022 graduates; and Chance Kaufman, a senior this year.
Silver Medal Teamworks winners were Zeak Santoyo and Joel Dukes, 2022 graduates; and Devon Tandy and Bryce Walters, both seniors this year.
Masonry: Senior Kale Spillman won a Gold Medal.
Electrical Construction Wiring: Luis Lozano, an adult education student, won a Gold Medal; senior Chloe Romero placed fifth; and senior Thomas Leech placed fourth.
Individual Carpentry: Senior Juan Lucas placed in the top 10.
Six Montecito High students advanced to the national conference where competitors represented 45 states.
Electrical Construction Wiring: Luis Lozano placed fourth.
Teamworks teams: Erick, Kaleb, Chance and Austin placed in the top 30.
Masonry: Kale Spillman placed in the top 30.
Students competed for the first time in Atlanta. Prior national competitions were held in Louisville, Ky., said Montecito High construction teacher Nicholas Jordan.
“It was a great experience for all the students and myself,” Jordan said. “They were able to see the SkillsUSA platform on a larger scale.”
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