Students of the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Proved They Have Skills at Local and National Skills USA Competitions
July 30th, 2010
Right after winter break the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Centers started gearing up for Skills USA. We selected eight students from the Home Builders Institute Plumbing and Electrical Wiring Trades, four contestants from each trade. Our first contest was the regional contest for Southern Arizona in February. This year it was held at Santa Rita High School in Tucson. We competed in both the High School and College levels. Out of the eight students we entered; we came back with six medals, 3-Gold, 2-Silver, and 1-Bronze. A special Highlight of this competition was the involvement of Frank Naughton, the owner of Naughton’s Plumbing Heating Cooling Headquarters. Frank donated all the copper for the plumbing contest and showed his support for the program throughout the contest and awards ceremony.
Then in April, it was time for the State contest in Phoenix. We took our same crew of eight HBI students, four students from each trade. The Plumbing contest was intense; it had a more difficult hands-on portion than the year before. The electrical contest was similar to last years, but had a very difficult electrical code exam. Out of the Eight students we entered; we came back with five Medals, 2-Gold, 2-Silver, and 1-Bronze.
In June, the two Gold Medal winners from the State contest were eligible to attend the National Contest in Kansas City Missouri. We took Christopher Herrera-HBI Plumbing and Daniel Hernandez-HBI Electrical Wiring. Just like in the state contest, the competitions for plumbing and electrical were radically different and very difficult. The competition at this level is so tough that they consider any student in the top ten to be awarded the title of Finalist. They are given a special certificate and an additional cash award. I am proud to announce this year we have our first ever Finalist. Christopher Herrera was a Finalist in the Plumbing College/Postsecondary category.
In total for 2010 the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center was awarded:
5 – Gold Medals
4 – Silver Medals
2 – Bronze Medals
And our first Finalist at the National Skills USA Contest