ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. On Friday, students from CTE programs throughout the U.P. competed to win scholarships in Escanaba.
The SkillsUSA Regional Competition drew 65 students to Bay College, where they displayed their knowledge of certain trades.
“We have welding, automotive, and computers,” said Bay College Academic Affairs Coordinator Tina Jensen. “They will compete for first, second, and third place, and those positions then will represent the U.P. in Grand Rapids in April and potentially get some scholarships.”
For students currently enrolled in CTE trades programs, SkillsUSA puts everything they’ve studied to the test.
“When I was a sophomore into now being a first-year in the automotive program technically, I have learned a lot and I’ve taken a lot out of it,” said Mason Peltin, a junior at Gladstone Area High School. “Plus, it kind of helps that I grew up working on semis since I was 12.”
Returning competitors like Nathan Foskett, a second-year Delta Schoolcraft ISD student from Rapid River Public Schools, hoped to top their previous performances.
“I did it two years ago, and I placed 7th out of 9, so I wanted to try my luck at it again,” Foskett said.
Foskett is already working in the community as an intern for an automotive company, thanks to his education and the experience he’s gained at these competitions. He says SkillsUSA has also provided valuable life lessons.
“It makes more sense to do it yourself if you can instead of having to pay extra for a dealership or an independent shop to do it,” he said.
Even for students who don’t plan to pursue the field they competed in, SkillsUSA still benefits them after high school.
“It makes you really appealing to companies and colleges because they see that you have drive,” said Gladstone senior Dio Martin, who is interested in studying law after graduation. “Even if you don’t place or you don’t do that good, the fact that you came and the fact that you decided to come compete in something you’re passionate about shows a lot about you. It’s a lot of fun, and the people you meet here are awesome too.”
No matter what place they earn at Regionals or in Grand Rapids, competitors say SkillsUSA helps them get ready for the future.
“I think that you should try everything you can in life, especially in high school, and make the most out of it,” Martin said.
“I hope they get, first of all, the camaraderie,” said Jensen, “but also the feel for just the experience alone of competition and having the ability to further, hopefully, their careers. This will kickstart some of them.”
Bay College awarded $2,500 scholarships to students won won first place in each category and $1,000 scholarships to students who placed second.
