NMCC students earn medals
at SkillsUSA Championships
PRESQUE ISLE — Northern Maine Community College students brought home gold, silver and bronze medals after competing in the SkillsUSA Maine Championships held recently in Bangor. About 750 college and high school trade and technical students from across Maine competed in several categories at Eastern Maine Community College and the United Technologies Center.
Contributed photos
WINNING WELDER — Northern Maine Community College’s Travis Guerrette, third from left, is honored with a first-place gold medal in the welding division during SkillsUSA. The Maine Championships were held recently in Bangor.
LOCAL MEDALISTS — Northern Maine Community College students are applauded as they earn medals at the state competition of SkillsUSA, held recently in Bangor. Cade Patten, center, won first place for electrical construction wiring and Brendan Harmon, right, took third place in that category.
SkillsUSA organizes competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the country and rewards them for excellence. The competition gives students a unique opportunity to excel in their trade and prepares students to work with industry and business.
“SkillsUSA provides our students with a valuable experience competing at the state level,” said Pamela Buck, chair of the NMCC trade and technical department. “The event reinforces their technical competencies and promotes self-confidence.”
Earning first place gold medals were: Kyle Lemelin for diesel hydraulics technology;
Cade Patten for electrical construction wiring; Travis Guerrette for welding; and Brady Bubar for automotive collision repair. Cody Dennison won a second-place silver medal for diesel hydraulics technology. Brendan Harmon won a third-place bronze medal for electrical construction wiring and Derek Foster won a third-place bronze medal for automotive refinishing technology. Jacob Lizotte competed in automotive technology.
Rick Taggett, NMCC welding instructor, was the chair of the state welding contest this year.
“NMCC trade students have consistently had a strong showing at the competition and this year was no exception. Our results at SkillsUSA is one more indicator of the outstanding capability of our faculty and students,” said Taggett.
The NMCC SkillsUSA chapter meets throughout the academic year to prepare for the competition.
