On April 12-14, 2019, a total of 29 Saint Paul College students competed in the 52nd Annual
Minnesota SkillsUSA State Conference in numerous competition categories, accompanied by three advisors from Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Sheet Metal, Electrical Technology, and Truck Technician. Faculty Tom Hillstead and Keith Setley are the SkillsUSA club advisors for Saint Paul College.
Students put on the perfect display of skills and professionalism throughout the weekend. Students belonging to the SkillsUSA organization are considered to be highly skilled leaders, possessing outstanding technical, academic and employability skills. Sheet Metal, Esthetics, and Cabinetmaking contests were held at Saint Paul College on Friday, April 12. All leadership and other skills contests were held at various locations across the Twin Cities on Friday and Saturday.
All first-place finishers have the opportunity to compete at the SkillsUSA National Conference in Louisville, KY June 24-28. We wish our students well as they compete at the national SkillsUSA competition.
“We are so proud of the outstanding skills displayed by our students at the Minnesota SkillsUSA competition, and how well they represented Saint Paul College,” said President Rassoul Dastmozd. “I am also so grateful to our SkillsUSA faculty advisors and other faculty members who coached, mentored, encouraged, and accompanied Saint Paul College students. Special congratulations to Tom Hillstead for receiving the Minnesota SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year award.”
Saint Paul College had
twenty-three medalists for this year's competitions:
12 gold, 9 silver, and 2 Bronze. Congratulations to the following Saint Paul College students who received first, second, or third place medals at the Minnesota State SkillsUSA 2019 competition:
1st Place (Gold) Recipients
- Esthetics: Sota Minni Koy and model Gianna Collelo
- Chapter Display: Joe Warec, Peter Strobel, Adam Thompson
- Job Skills Demonstration: Peter Ganzlin
- Quiz Bowl: Alex Ellis, Thomas Foley, Peter Ganzlin, Adam Thompson, Luke Spring
- Safety: Thomas Foley
- Sheet Metal: Sam Meyer
2nd Place (Silver) Recipients
- Esthetics: Maria Schwartz and model Kari Kauffman
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Adam Thompson
- Quiz Bowl: Team - Riley Adelsheim-Marshall, Steve Loe, Nick Pate, Holly Soldner, Joe Warec
- Sheet Metal: Matthew Bell
- Industrial Motor Control: Cameron Nelson
3rd Place (Bronze) Recipients
- Cabinetmaking: Holly Soldner
- Sheet Metal: Nick Meyers
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive.
About SkillsUSA Minnesota
SkillsUSA Minnesota is one of the Career & Technical Student Organizations offered in Minnesota’s school system. SkillsUSA serves high school and college students enrolled in technical, skilled, service and health occupations. BPA, DECA/DEX, FFA, PAS, FCCLA, HOSA, & HERO serve other areas.
SkillsUSA is part of the national
SkillsUSA organization that serves over 340,000 student members annually, organized into more than 19,000 chapters and 52 state and territorial association. The Minnesota Association has offered leadership opportunities to over 250,000 student members since 1967, with a current annual membership of over 3,000. There are chapters in 32 technical colleges and 50 high schools or cooperative centers, with potential to serve many more. SkillsUSA Minnesota is governed by a Board of Directors, elected from teachers that advise local chapters, and representing both the high school and college divisions and industry representatives. All programs are offered as integral to the curriculum. Business and industry leaders play a vital part in the SkillsUSA program. These leaders assure that career and technical training programs stay current and meet industry technical standards. They volunteer to speak to students about their industry or job seeking & keeping skills, they design the hands-on skill competitions, provide teacher in-service on new products and equipment, and donate supplies and equipment for student use in the school setting.
