Joseph Williamson, Oliver Ferguson, Gold, Additive Manufacturing) Joseph Williamson (left) and Oliver Ferguson programmed a 3-D printer to create a device that used a vacuum cleaner as a wind source to lift a marble payload. Their design was judged the lightest weight, which earned them the gold medal in the Additive Manufacturing category. Joseph, a second-year student from River Homelink in the Battle Ground School District, plans to attend WSU/Vancouver and major in mechanical engineering. Oliver is a first-year student from Firm Foundation Christian School who plans to attend Embry-Riddle University to major in Aeronautical Engineering. Photo courtesy Evergreen School District

Area students shine at regional skills and leadership event, sweep 10 categories

Students representing Vancouver’s Cascadia Technical Academy (CTA) took home more than 40 medals and swept 10 categories during SkillsUSA regional technical and leadership competitions held earlier this month.

A total of 103 Cascadia Tech students competed in 128 contests at the Southwest Washington Regional Competitions for SkillsUSA, a nonprofit educational association that serves more than 331,000 students and instructors across the country with a goal of preparing students for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.

Jamaree Gipson is a second-year student from Evergreen High School who next year will be enrolled in HiTecc at Clark College where he will split time between on-campus training and working alongside professional automotive technicians at a leading car dealership in the area. Photo courtesy Evergreen School District

In total, CTA students were awarded 16 gold medals, 16 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals, sweeping first, second and third place in Automotive Service, Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair, Computer Maintenance, Cosmetology, Information Technology Services, Cyber Security, Restaurant Services, Customer Service, Job Skills Demonstration and Related Technical Math.

“We are incredibly proud of all of our students who competed in this month’s regional SkillsUSA event,” said Joan Huston, the academy’s director. “It’s wonderful to see so many students putting their knowledge and skills to the test against students from high school tech programs, CTE (career technical education) classes and college training programs.”

Celia Langarica is a first-year student from Evergreen High School who is a member of an all-women crew in the Construction Technology program. In her Creed oral presentation she shared her belief that you can achieve anything through hard work, and views this creed as a promise to open doors to other women in the trades as she continues to learn now and in the future. After her presentation, she asked the judges for additional time to repeat her speech in Spanish, which was enthusiastically granted. Photo courtesy Evergreen School District

“Students who placed first, second and third during the regional event will move on to the SkillsUSA State Technical Skills and Leadership Conference in mid-April in Tacoma,” said David Cole, Cascadia Tech Foundation’s executive director. “If you would like to support students who need assistance with the cost of travel, food and lodging at the Washington State finals, please visit our website at www.cascadiatechfoundation.org.”

About Cascadia Technical Academy

Students from the 11th and 12th grades from throughout Clark County enroll at Cascadia Technical Academy to gain the knowledge and experience to be hired immediately after high school into industries with family-sustaining wages and/or to concurrently earn college credits. Founded in 1983 as Clark County’s Skill Center, the school now enrolls 1,350 students from 10 school districts as well as homeschooled, GED, and approved private schools. Learn more at www.cascadiatechnicalacademy.org.

About Cascadia Technical Academy Foundation

Cascadia Technical Academy is a public school that receives state funding for facilities and staffing but does not receive bond or levy funds from any of the municipalities it serves. The purpose of the Foundation is to raise funds to support Cascadia Technical Academy students with: (1) specialized equipment, tools and technology that are outside of those required in traditional high school curriculum; (2) scholarships to support students in their path to career and/or college readiness; and financial stewardship of those funds and assets. Learn more at www.cascadiatechfoundation.org.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA seeks to improve the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Learn more at www.skillsusa.org/about.

How You Can Support CTA Students at SkillsUSA:

While we are excited about the opportunity for our students to compete in SkillsUSA, the reality is that it can be cost prohibitive for many of our students. Additionally, Cascadia Tech does not receive bond or levy funds that could provide financial support to these students. If you would like to help offset the cost of competing for students in need of financial assistance, a gift of $100 will support a student’s food costs, $200 transportation to State, and $500 assistance for the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia. To donate, please visit our website at www.cascadiatechfoundation.org.

Information provided by Evergreen School District.

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