NMCC students earn medals
at SkillsUSA event
PRESQUE ISLE — Ten students from Northern Maine Community College were among the more than 800 high school and college students who competed in the SkillsUSA Maine State Conference held in Bangor March 15. Nine came home with medals after taking part in the written and hands-on components.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
PROUDLY DISPLAYING the medals they won in the SkillsUSA Maine State Conference held recently in Bangor are NMCC students, from left, front row: Leslie Campbell, gold medal, photography; Kord Putnam, gold medal, plumbing; and Brian Buck, silver medal, plumbing. Back row: Zack Haggerty, gold medal, technical drafting; Patrick Simpson, gold medal, computer maintenance; Tyler Eager, silver medal, electrical wiring; Kyle Doody, gold medal, electrical wiring; and Kurtis Gagnon, silver medal, welding. Absent when the photo was taken was Albert Mauger, gold medal, auto refinishing.
“It is exciting for the students to compete in their area of study to test their knowledge and skill,” said Pam Buck, chair of the NMCC trade and technical occupations department. “It was a lot of pressure and they were nervous, but in the end everyone did very well. It is a valuable educational opportunity.”
Buck traveled to Bangor, along with Robert Collins, automotive collision repair instructor, and Rick Taggett, welding instructor, to support the NMCC competitors.
Earning first-place gold medals were Leslie Campbell of Presque Isle, photography; Kyle Doody of Westbrook, electrical wiring; Zack Haggerty of Easton, technical drafting; Albert Mauger of Hermon, auto refinishing; Kord Putnam of Mapleton, plumbing; and Patrick Simpson of West Enfield, computer maintenance. These students are now eligible to compete in the national competition that takes place in Kansas City in June.
Bringing home silver medals: Brian Buck, Mapleton, plumbing; Tyler Eager, Presque Isle, electrical wiring; and Kurtis Gagnon, Frenchville, welding. Also competing was Anderson Coope, Calais, in collision repair.
The competition is worthwhile for both students and instructors.
“Not only does it help students build confidence in themselves, but it gives instructors insight into how well a student can perform outside of the normal lab setting,” said Collins. “I would highly encourage students and instructors from any program here at NMCC to get involved and compete at least at the state level.”
The statewide competition took place at United Technologies Center and Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. There were more than 75 competitions for students to participate in. Some directly related to the students’ technical schools, such as automotive refinishing and plumbing, and others, like photography or speech, showcased different skills.
NMCC had not had a chapter for SkillsUSA, formerly known as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, in a number of years and just re-established one last year. The students met throughout the year to get the NMCC chapter organized and to prepare for the competition.
“SkillsUSA starts months before the competition. It requires tons of teamwork, cooperation and dedication from everyone,” said Doody, vice president of the NMCC chapter. “We had a great support system from the college, including students with ideas and other school-wide organizations coming to us with tips on ways to raise needed funds. I befriended many people that I might not have met otherwise. I will always cherish the opportunity I had and will use the leadership experience in many other roles for years to come.”
