Gadsden, Ala. — Gadsden State Community College students earned seven gold medals, 10 silver medals and seven bronze medals during the recent Alabama SkillsUSA Leadership Conference, Career Expo and State Championship in Birmingham. The SkillsUSA theme for this year is “Champions at Work, Job-Ready Day One.”
Technical students from Gadsden State’s Ayers, East Broad and Valley Street campuses competed with more than 1,700 students in over 80 different categories including precision machining, HVACR, automotive refinishing, promotional bulletin board, prepared speech, architectural drawing, electrical construction wiring, job interview and nail care.
“These students have worked hard to compete successfully at these competitions and to be job ready when they enter the workforce,” said Tim Green, dean of technical education and workforce development. “They are great representatives of our College and the community college system as a whole. We are very proud of their success at the SkillsUSA competition.”
The gold medal winners will represent Gadsden State at the 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference June 25-29 in Louisville, Ky.
Local students finishing in first place and earning gold medals are Keisha Lang of Albertville with model Bailey Maxwell of Gadsden in Nail Care and the team of Chad Hayes of Trussville, Austin Lindsey of Cedar Bluff and Anthony Zito of Ashville in Promotional Bulletin Board.
The bronze medal for finishing in third place was awarded to Jabari Calloway of Piedmont in Automotive Collison Repair Technology.
Students who represented Gadsden State at the skills competition and finished in the Top 10 in their event include Penelope Wood of Geraldine; Lillie Vandergriff of Cedar Bluff with model Summer Herron and Baylee Walls of Albertville.
Kristi Clifton, instructor for the Salon and Spa Management program, was awarded an Honorary Life Membership. The membership is given to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Alabama SkillsUSA or technical education.
Program advisors for students competing include Kristi Clifton (Job Interview/Cosmetology/Esthetics/Men’s Hair Design/Nail Care), Bruce Hill (Auto Collision Repair/Automotive Refinishing Technology), Zora Garner (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Men’s Hair Design/Nail Care), Tim Hardy (HVAC/R), Dave Hyatt (Job Skills Demo/Architectural Drafting), Brandon Patterson (Automotive Refinishing Technology/ Auto Collision Repair/), Joe Hulsey (HVAC/R), Tony Thrower (Electrical Construction Wiring/Industrial Motor Controls), David Smith (CNC Technician/CNC Turning/Promotional Bulletin Board/ Automotive Manufacturing Technology, Laura Ann Sullins (Prepared Speech/Extemporaneous Speech) and James Wilson (Additive Manufacturing/Automotive Manufacturing Technology/Technical Drafting).
“We have some of the finest technical instructors in the state working on our campuses,” Green said. “They are committed to the mission of developing students who excel in skills competitions and graduate prepared to enter the workforce as ‘Champions at Work, Job-Ready Day One.’”
The SkillsUSA competition is a partnership among students, teachers, schools and industry working together to showcase talent. The national organization for college/postsecondary technical students enrolled in trade, technical and skilled service profession instructional programs including allied health occupations represents more than 300,000 students and instructors. SkillsUSA has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations.
For more information about Gadsden State technical programs visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/technical.