ST. GEORGE — Multiple students from Southern Utah took home medals and certificates during the 2018 SkillsUSA Championships.
Over 6,300 students from all states participated in the competition, which took place in Louisville, Kentucky, June 27-28. Students were able to demonstrate technical, workplace and personal skills through 102 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions, according to a press release. Some of those competitions included robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.
Dixie State University had three students help represent Utah. One of the students, Kyler Kelsch, won the gold medal for the Screen Printing Technology contest with a Fourth of July-themed T-shirt he designed.
During that particular contest, participants were tested on their ability to prepare screens, prepare a multi-color design on a rotary press and ability to print their design.
He had to print as many T-shirts as possible in 10 minutes, as well as observe five badly designed T-shirts during the contest, Kelsch said.
“You had to determine what was wrong with the T-shirts and ways they can be fixed,” he said.
Kelsch has been practicing screen printing since his sophomore year of high school and now has his own company – Geezy Tees.
“The competition has helped prepare me in the digital design world and marketing world. I’ve learned how important detail is.”
Kelsch was able to win “substantial” equipment for the graphic arts program at Dixie State, Greg Bartholomew, assistant professor of education at Dixie State, told St. George News.
Other Dixie State students who attended this year’s SkillsUSA competition were Madison Whitney and Ryan Friedel.
Dixie State students weren’t the only ones representing Utah. Students from Dixie Applied Technology College and Desert Hills High School also took home awards.
Winners
- Russell Morris, a student at Dixie Applied Technology College, was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Electrical Construction Wiring.
- Alayna G. Walker, a student at Desert Hills High School, was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in T-Shirt Design.
- Cambden Chamberlain and Calvin Blanchard, from Dixie Applied Technology College, were awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Digital Cinema Production.
- Raul Jaracuaro and Jesus Gomez, from Dixie Applied Technology College, were awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Television (Video) Production.
- Erica K. Evans, a student at Desert Hills High School, was awarded the high school bronze medal in Pin Design.
To learn more about SkillsUSA and this year’s winners, click here.
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