Students from the TradeWorks program were selected to go to the annual SkillsUSA competition with industrial tech teacher Jacob Driver, and TradeWorks teacher Nathan Harm. Among those students was junior Cas Sakalosky, who won a silver medal for second place.
Sakalosky said he prepared for SkillsUSA in the mornings.
“I prepared on Thursday mornings plumbing on a construct in the TradeWorks room at AL with Driver and Harm.”
Sakalosky also said this award is significant to him.
“It means a good amount to me, it shows me that the hard work between IWCC classes and plumbing on Thursday mornings really paid off.”
Driver said SkillsUSA can provide students with skills needed in their future trade.
“The practical side of things is that they’re actually doing the skill or trade that they want to do in the future. They’re learning the skills that they need to be successful in the trade that they’re looking to do,” said Driver. “The other thing is that SkillsUSA does a nice job of is students have to build a resume, they’ve got to do those types of things that are really geared to them getting a job in the future.”
Driver also said SkillsUSA is important for your future as well.
“It’s a great opportunity for anybody. It’s not just plumbing and automotive and those types of things, I mean it’s a gamut of things,” said Driver. “Even if you’re not sure of something to do, to get involved, come see the opportunities that are there for skills. I think it really sets you up for job interviews, for different things, to kind of organize those things. That’s why I think it’s so important.”
Harm said students learn important skills that help them in the future.
“Their depth and knowledge, hopefully they pick a trade that they want to go into a superior field, just learn a little more in depth about it,” said Harm.
Harm also said practice makes perfect.
“Students usually pick a trade that they want to be in or a skill competition, and then we just practice as the year goes on one time a year,” said Harm. “We take the skills competition plans from last year and then we just practice them all year.”
