Southeastern Tech Students Bring Home Three SkillsUSA Medals

Southeastern Technical College students brought home three medals from SkillsUSA Georgia Post-Secondary Championships and Career Expo.

• Gavin Jackson, Elec tronics Technology – 1st place GOLD Medal • Jaqueline Ziranda Diaz, Nail Care, with model Teaira Benjamin – 1st place GOLD Medal • Jack Weissinger, Elec tronics Technology – 3rd place BRONZE Medal The conference opened on March 9 in Atlanta. SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis addressed the general assembly with encouragement for the students to embrace the now. She thanked industries for their importance in making this event possible each year. The Georgia World Congress Center housed most of the competitions. Winners were awarded their medals on March 11.

“Attending SkillsUSA for the first time and coming home with the gold is an achievement I could never have imagined. I want to thank my instructor, Mr. William Greene, for helping me reach this point. I would not be where I am today without his stellar instruction. I am now preparing for nationals, where I hope to bring home another gold medal,” said Gavin Jackson.

“SkillsUSA was a wonderful experience, not just because I won a third-place medal, but because everyone there was so involved. It was an incredible sight to see people so interested in their competition areas. If I could go back to compete for something else, I would love to,” said Jack Weissinger.

SkillsUSA Georgia is a partnership of students, teachers, and industries working together to ensure that Georgia has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA Georgia serves middle school, high school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.

The other Southeastern Technical College competitors were: • Karen Contreras- Hinojosa – Esthetics, with model Yuri Agundiz-Gonzalez • Tucker Copeland – Electrical Construction Wiring • Isabella Diaz – Bar –

bering

• John Glover – Diesel Equipment Technology • Landy Pearson – Cos –

metology • Sho Peebles – Heat ing, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration • Kimberly Register – Customer Service • Savannah Skipper – Diesel Equipment Technology • Jaslynn Smith – Job Skill Demonstration Open, with model Tahnee Mobley SkillsUSA advisors for Southeastern Technical College are Tina Jernigan, Business Management Instructor, and Tony Criswell, Industrial Electrical and Maintenance Technician Instructor.

Competitor Kimberly Register is a Business Management student in a fully-online program at Southeastern Technical College. “SkillsUSA has been my favorite experience and memory while being at Southeastern Tech. Competing was so much fun and taught me so much about where I am as a professional. We can’t get experiences from a book or by not taking chances. SkillsUSA is an experience I am so thankful to have been part of. I hope many other students have the same opportunity. It is so worth it,” said Kimberly.

“Our time is now. Never a better time to be skilled than right now,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “Lives are changed, and goals are realized. We aren’t just here to help ourselves but here to help each other. We are counting on you to be leaders and difference-makers – life changers. Like John Maxwell said, “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”

“I congratulate you on being among the top students in the state. If you want something and work for it, nothing can stop you,” said Greg Dozier, Technical College System of Georgia commissioner.

The gold medal recipients move on to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in June to showcase their technical education, in Atlanta.

Jaqueline Ziranda Diaz, Nail Care gold medalist.