Calhoun Students Big Winners in 2014 Alabama SkillsUSA Competition

May 5, 2014

Calhoun Students Big Winners in 2014 Alabama

SkillsUSA Competition

Several students representing Calhoun Community College recently attended the Alabama SkillsUSA Leadership conference in Birmingham, earning five 1^st place, four 2^nd place, and four 3rd place medals in competition.   The Calhoun winners were:

First Place Winners:

Nick Cordier, Madison, AL - Computer Maintenance

Jacob Rippy, Madison, AL - Cosmetology

Lena Sledge, Madison, AL - TV/Video Production (first year Calhoun has   competed in this category)     

Thomas Rutherford, Hatton, AL - Architectural Drafting

William Johnson, Athens, AL - Internetworking

Second Place Winners:

Justin Renshaw, Decatur, AL - Internetworking

Rebecca Jones, Huntsville, AL - Architectural Drafting

Thomas Steele, Hartselle, AL - Technical Drafting

Hunter Partridge, Madison, AL - Precision Machining

        

Third Place Winners:

Ronald Campbell, Sheffield, AL - Job Skill Demonstration

Nelson Sanchez, Decatur, AL - CNC Milling

Jared Bailey, Athens, AL - CNC Turning

Calista Blankenship, Sommerville, AL - Job Interview

All gold medal (first place) winners will automatically go on to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference to be held in June 23-28 in Kansas City, MO.

SkillsUSA, formerly known as VICA, is a national non-profit organization devoted to preparing students for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations. It serves more than 300,000 high school, college, and professional members. Alabama currently has close to 9,000 members.

Calhoun's SkillsUSA Chapter advisors are instructors Nick Agrawal (Computer Information Systems); Nina Bullock (Drafting); Steve Smith (Machine Tool Technology); Mark Rose (Industrial Technology) and Collis Sims (Electrical Technology).

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Calhoun to Host Skills Extravaganza for Area High School Students

March 4, 2014

Calhoun to Host Skills Extravaganza for Area High School Students

Area high school students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to compete in a realistic environment before attending events such as the Alabama SkillsUSA Conference as they take part in the 4^th Annual Skills Extravaganza, Thursday, March 6, 2014, in the Aerospace Training Center at Calhoun Community College's Decatur campus.

Calhoun hosts the event each year as a precursor and preparation for students before they participate in state and national skills competitions.  According to Bethany Shockney, dean for Business, Technologies, and Workforce Development at Calhoun, students will compete in a number of areas and disciplines to include the following:  cosmetology, computer networking, computer programming, CNC turning and milling, drafting (architectural and mechanical), HVAC, job interview, machine tool technology, nail technology, and welding.  

"The students taking part in our Skills Extravaganza event will compete in contests which are based on performance standards equal to or greater than the SkillsUSA technical standards," said Shockney.   "These students will be able to measure their ability and prepare for reality, increase their competitive awareness, and align their expectations for success through real-world, hands-on activities," Shockney added.

Over 150 students have registered for the competition, representing the following schools:

• Allen Thornton Career Technical Center (Killlen)
• Arab High School
• Brewer High School
• Central High School (Florence)
• Etowah County Career Technical Center
• Earnest Pruett Center of Technology (Hollywood)
• Gadsden City High School
• Huntsville Center of Technology
• Lawrence County Career and Technology Center
• Limestone County Career Technical School
• Madison County Career and Technical Center
• Winston County Technical Center
  

For more information on the 2014 Skills Extravaganza, visit the Calhoun website at www.calhoun.edu/SkillsExtravaganza or call 256-306-2649.

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Calhoun Students Big Winners in 2013 Alabama SkillsUSA Competition

May 2, 2013

Calhoun Students Big Winners in 2013 Alabama

SkillsUSA Competition

Several students representing Calhoun Community College recently attended the Alabama SkillsUSA Leadership conference in Birmingham, earning six 1^st place, seven 2^nd place, and two 3rd place medals in competition.   The Calhoun winners were:

First Place Winners:

Paul Parker, Union Grove, AL – Architectural Drafting (received a $2000 Dept. of Postsecondary Education scholarship)

Robert Estes, Hartselle, AL – Technical Drafting (received a $2000 Dept. of Postsecondary Education scholarship)

Marc Spengler, Decatur, AL – Electrical Construction Wiring (received a $2000 Dept. of Postsecondary Education scholarship)

Scott Alford, Huntsville, AL – Computer Programming

Travis Crouse, Huntsville, AL – Computer Maintenance

Samantha Kirkland, Hartselle, AL – Job Skill Demonstration

Second Place Winners:

Thomas Steele, Hartselle, AL – Technical Drafting

Christina Howard, Anderson, AL – Job Interview

Daniel Starr, Oxford, AL – Computer Maintenance

Mercedes Hursh, Athens, AL – Job Skill Demonstration

Marcia Childers, Hartselle, AL – Automated Manufacturing

Shawn Anderson, Athens, AL - Automated Manufacturing

Gene Smith, Somerville, AL – Automated Manufacturing

Third Place Winners:

Hunter Partridge, Madison, AL– CNC Turning

Anthony Hardin, New Market, AL – Computer Programming

All gold medal (first place) winners will automatically go on to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference to be held in June in Kansas City, MO. 

SkillsUSA, formerly known as VICA, is a national non-profit organization devoted to preparing students for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations. It serves more than 300,000 high school, college, and professional members. Alabama currently has close to 9,000 members.

Calhoun's SkillsUSA Chapter advisors are instructors Nick Agrawal (Computer Information Systems); Nina Bullock (Drafting); Steve Smith (Machine Tool Technology); Mark Rose ( Industrial Technology) and Collis Sims (Electrical Technology).

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