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Another Great Year of Competition

Students Excel at State SkillsUSA Competition

Lots on pictures on our Facebook page!

Kankakee Area Career Center (KACC) has once again demonstrated how talented our students are at the regional and State levels.

 

SkillsUSA State Competition – the Scholastic Bowl of Career and Technical Education (CTE) took place April 11 to 13 in Springfield, Illinois.  Kankakee Area Career Center’s SkillsUSA Team consisted of 44 students.  These students go the extra mile to ensure they are ready for competition.  Many had to undergo written tests to even qualify to compete at the State Level. 

 

The fact “We Got Skills” is evidenced by the successes our students earned. KACC Principal, Tim Guerin, accompanied students and SkillsUSA Advisors this year.  He said he was “extremely impressed with the high level of knowledge and talent our young folks demonstrated.  They conducted themselves in a very professional manner.  I could not be more proud.”

 

Meghann Miller, KACC Cosmetology Instructor and Lead SkillsUSA Advisor said “Each competitor brought their ‘A-game’ to the competition.  With a lot of preparation, Team KACC excelled at State.  The hard work and positive attitudes really paid off.  I am proud of each and everyone one of them.”

 

Ms. Miller was assisted by Skills Advisors: James Stafford, Automotive Technology Instructor, Michael Gall, Welding Technology Instructor and Dawn Kleber, Automotive Teacher’s Aide. 

 

KACC’s Law Enforcement Instructor, Don Barber, is incredibly proud as well.  Once again, he has a first place team for Criminal Scene Investigations.  His CSI Team students are: Matthew Gonzalez and Jose Cabrera Beecher, HS and Logan Charbonneau, St. Anne HS.  Matthew Gonzales said "I'm extremely proud of my team for being the absolute best they could have been and all of their hard work and dedication has really shown.  When we go to Nationals, I have no doubt they will absolutely blow away the competition."

 

Gerry Glunz, BBCHS Student in Computer Technology, not only finished in second place, he was also elected post-secondary State Secretary and will be going to SkillsUSA Nationals this June Louisville.  Gerry said "It was a hard competition that took a lot of energy and time, but I am proud to be one of the few to emerge victorious."

 

Catie Ailey, Cosmetology Adult Program, and Team KACC student president was selected for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Catie Ailey & Jordan Edwards, TeamKACC President and Vice President said they had a blast at Skills. "It was such a great experience.  We really enjoyed meeting and bonding with the other students.  We are beyond grateful for all the help and support of our teachers at Kankakee Area Career Center."

 

Seth Shreffler, 2nd place finisher stated the "SkillsUSA competition was an amazing learning experience for me.  It really showed me what I can improve on and where my strong suits are in my career field and I'm very grateful I had the chance to compete."

 

Kohlton Lanoue said that he thought that for our "First Skills experience, it was awesome. I Had lost of fun at the contest and with our school."

 

KACC Skills Advisor, Dawn Kleber was also proud of the student for their dedication and "perseverance" it took to get to the State Competition level.  "To me, she said, "they are all winners.  they went and did their best!"

 

Other top-ten finishers at State Competition are:

2^nd Place

Automotive Service Technology: Seth Shreffler, Manteno HS

Information Technology Service:  Gerry Glunz, BBCHS

Cosmetology Post-Secondary – Catie Ailey – Watseka HS Alumn

 

3^rd Place

Cosmetology: Alicia Avila – Clifton Central HS

Cosmetology Post-Secondary: Jordan Edwards – Watseka HS Alumn

4^th Place

Welding Technology – Robert Eakins – Bishop McNamara

Construction Technology Team Works: Josiah Tilley, Homeschool; Wilson Netherton, Bishop McNamara; Kohlton Lanoue, Donovan; and, Nicholas Vaughn, Iroquois West HS

Electrical Construction: Wiring Travis Felchia – Central HS

Criminal Scene Investigation: Bryce Modglin and Jailen Valerio, BBCHS and Brandon Morse, Grant Park HS

 

5^th Place Cosmetology – Lauren Hanson, Homeschool

 

6^th Place

Esthetics:  Caity Edwards, BBCHS with model Elena Garza, Crete Monee HS

Collision Repair Technology: Noah Dingler, Clifton Central HS

 

7^th Place

Welding Fabrication Team: Brayden Peters, BBCHS; Tatum Hall, Kankakee HS; and, Noah Fink, Iroquois West

Full Service Automotive: Sarah DeJonge, Grant Park HS

 

8^th Place

Full Service Automotive: Hector Gonzalez, BBCHS

Cosmetology – Kara Schultz, Herscher HS

 

9^th Place Welding Technology: Sean Drexler, Manteno HS

 

10^th Place Cosmetology: Hazel Burgess - Homeschool

 

Prior to the State SkillsUSA Competition, there was a regional conference in Elgin, where KACC students also saw success.  The following students excelled:

1st Place

Cosmetology - Alicia Avila, Clifton Central High School

Esthetics - Catie Edwards, BBCHS

Job Interview - Angelle Vanderwarf, Beecher HS

 

2nd Place

First Aid/CPR: Magdalena Gaffney, Beecher HS

Nurse Assisting - Adamaris Jaramillo - BBCHS

Cosmetology - Lauren Hanson - Homeschool

 

3rd Place

Cosmetology - Hazel Burgess, Homeschool