Local students shine at SkillsUSA meet

Students from the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technology Center returned with several medals from a trip to the annual SkillsUSA meet in Bangor in March. Celebrating their successful showing are, from left, front row: Rachel Davis, Kaci Bates, Sadie Kinney, Maddison Cleaves and Jonah Gordon. Second row: Rachel Ring, Abigail Harper, Chase Quirion, Cole Paterson and Jonah Clark. Third row: Sam Hebert, Lorna Sperrey, Eleanor Goheen, McKenzie Turner, Macey Barker, Julia Dahlgren, Laura McKenna and Chloe Hammond. Back row: Chance Bragan, Kyler Caron, Wyatt Fullen, Miranda Bragan, Randon Mortland, Griffin Guerrette, Ryle Mortland, Adam Paterson and RJ Gross. (Courtesy of Amy White)

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The annual SkillsUSA competition was held in Bangor on March 1 and 2. Students from Presque Isle High School, Washburn, Ashland, Mars Hill and Caribou competed. Competitions were held at the Cross Insurance Center, United Technologies Center, Eastern Maine Community College and Penobscot Job Corps.

One highlight to this year’s opening ceremonies was having not only the State Director of Skills Hal Casey in attendance, but also the National SkillsUSA Director Timothy W. Lawrence to kick off competitions. He gave a welcoming speech at opening ceremonies which consisted of SpongeBob analogies that got the entire crowd of students involved starting with, “Are you ready, kids?” (cue “SpongeBob” theme song), and the night continued from there.

         Official dress for a SkillsUSA competition consists of black dress pants, black socks or tights, a white polo shirt or white t-shirt, covered by a red SkillsUSA jacket or red blazer. The boys are expected to wear a white collared shirt with a black tie to accompany their red jacket or blazer. Many people lost points during their competitions due to lack of complete official dress as the judges went around and checked outfits, even going as far to ask people to lift their pant legs to prove they were wearing black socks or tights.

Closing ceremonies took longer than opening ceremonies but it held more excitement because students finally got the results of their competitions. The night began with PIRCTC winning the spirit award, thanks to the cops and robbers uniforms students wore the night before at opening ceremonies, complimented with cardboard jail cells and a stuffed police dog.

Senior Ellie Goheen, current SkillsUSA historian was re-elected to be on the Maine SkillsUSA State Officer team. Junior Wyatt Fullen was also elected to join the State Officer team. Both students had to interview for the position and were recognized on stage during closing ceremonies. Positions will soon be elected to determine what role each student will play on the State Officer Team.

In the final results, 30 out of the 36 students competing for PIRCTC placed, whether that meant winning gold, silver or bronze.  PIRCTC headed home with happy hearts, medals around their necks and smiles on their faces.

Taylor Fletcher is a PIHS student and member of the SkillsUSA team. This story first appeared on pihsanchor.com.