Manufacturing & Machining Students Qualify for SkillsUSA Nationals

Amarillo College’s students and dual-credit students both competed in a state-wide contest at SkillsUSA Texas earlier this month in Corpus Christi. Together the group earned three first place finishes and those students qualified to compete in the national SkillsUSA competitions.

“This was the first year that secondary and post-secondary students competed at the same location at the same time,” said Ernie Sheets, AC’s Manufacturing Education Center (MEC) department chair. “I feel this enhanced the experience for all post-secondary students in attendance. High school students are now able to see colleges competing which in turn developed a vision for continued education pathways.”

Students in AC’s MEC competed in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; Motor Control; Welding; Carpentry; Electrical ;Plumbing; and Cabinetmaking.

MEC student James Skaggs won first place in cabinetmaking, qualifying him to compete at SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta this summer.

“This year was a majority of first-year students,” Sheets said. “Several were talking about returning next year to win gold. It was an ideal event for our AC students to attend.”

Two of the MEC students applied to be SkillsUSA Texas Ambassadors, which would also enable them to attend the national competition this year for leadership training. Sheets said the training they receive will be implemented at AC to encourage leadership within the AC programs.

The dual-credit students competed in Three and Five Axis Computer Numerical Control Milling, Programming and Turning.

“I am very proud of this group of students, ”said Bob Gustin, AC machining instructor. “Being at the state-level and earning this number of awards is tremendous.”

Dual-credit student Aiden Arizpe won first place in 3-Axis CNC Milling and Misael Perez won first place 5-Axis CNC Milling.

The group also met with other state high school coaches interested in AC for their students’ continued education, Sheets said.   

Dave Gibson, AmTech Skills USA Machining adviser, also works to prepare these students for competition. The SkillsUSA National Competition is set for June 23-27 in Atlanta.

 Student results are as follows:

AC MEC student:

• James Skaggs, First Place, Cabinetmaking

Dual-Credit students:

• Aiden Arizpe, First Place 3-Axis CNC Milling.
• Misael Perez, First Place 5-Axis CNC Milling.
• Brayden Kongdara, Third Place 5-Axis CNC Milling.
• Phillips Gentry, Second Place CNC Programmer.
• Abel Trevino, Third Place CNC Programmer.
• Ian Martinez, Third Place CNC 2-Axis CNC Turning