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Campus News

Students Place at SkillsUSA


students place skillsusa4/15/15
SkillsUSA Co-Advisors Gary Olsen, Electrical Instructor, and Judy Drown, Electrical Instructor, along with several students attended the SkillsUSA Minnesota State Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference was held at the Double Tree in Bloomington, MN and the competition was held at Viking Electric in North Minneapolis.  


The Canby Campus of Minnesota West is proud to announce that two of their very own students in the Electrical Program placed at state level.


Zachary Thooft brought home the gold medal where he competed in Industrial Motor Controls and took first place. Zachary is a second year student from Arco, MN.  Kyle Rockensock brought home the silver medal where he competed in Residential Wiring and took second place.  Kyle is a first year student from Ortonville, MN. Zachary will then go on to compete at the SkillsUSA National Competition which will take place June 22-26, 2015 in Louisville, KY.


Diesel Technology students that also competed in areas of the competition were: Jonathan Mahin of Dunnell, MN, Cody Bernardy of Tracy, MN, Ethan Swenson of Lake Benton, MN, and Eric Ahmann, of Marshall, MN. Each of these students competed in the Diesel Technology competition in Trouble Shooting, Diagnostics, and DOT.


Electrician students that also competed in areas of Residential Wiring and Motor Controls were Zane Smith of Clarkfield, MN, Nathan Greiner of Canby, MN, and Dalton Magers of Redwood Falls, MN.


In the spring of each year, approximately 350 business and industry leaders get together and present nearly 70 skill and leadership contests that they have prepared for the student members from across the state. These are entry-level, hands-on skill contests, evaluated by the same industry leaders who prepare them. The competitions are based on industry driven occupational skill standards. Industry donates many thousands of dollars in prizes in the form of scholarships, tools, reference manuals and training aids for winners and their schools. Business partners work throughout the school year to plan the competitive events and many of them hire their new employees right off the competition floor. First place winners from each division in most contests will be offered the opportunity to go on to a national level competition.