Kish College students showcase career expertise in SkillsUSA competitions
The Kishwaukee College SkillsUSA team finished the year with competitors earning first-place medals in the state and national championships.
Read MoreKish College students showcase career expertise in SkillsUSA competitions
The Kishwaukee College SkillsUSA team finished the year with competitors earning first-place medals in the state and national championships.
SkillsUSA is a national organization helping prepare students for trade professions. SkillsUSA annually hosts competitions for career and technical education (CTE) students to showcase their hands-on training and abilities.
In April, Kish’s SkillsUSA chapter had 15 students qualify for the SkillsUSA Illinois Championships in Peoria with medalists in the Heavy Equipment Operator, Power Equipment Technology and Diesel Equipment Technology categories.
Lily Goode finished in first place to earn the state title in Power Equipment Technology, with teammates Chaz Finley earning second place and Tom Nowicki placing third. In Heavy Equipment Operator, Cole Wilke earned first place and a state title. Christian Thorne, competing at the high school level, placed first to earn a state title in Diesel Equipment Technology.
By winning their respective categories at the state level, Goode, Wilke and Thorne qualified to compete with more than 6,000 students in the SkillsUSA Championships during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference this June in Atlanta, Georgia. Wilke earned the gold medal and national championship in the Heavy Equipment Operator category. Thorne placed seventh in the high school Diesel Equipment Technology competition, and Goode placed eighth in the Power Equipment Technology category.
The Kish team is coached by Don Flink, Assistant Professor of Diesel Power Technology.
“Our students work hard all year to compete at the highest level and showcase the career skills they learn and build at Kishwaukee College,” Flink said. “We are very proud of the results and all our dedicated SkillsUSA team members.”
Kish’s SkillsUSA team includes members from the various Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs the College offers. To learn more about CTE opportunities at Kish, visit www.kish.edu/cte.