Oregon students showcased impressive talent, leadership and career-ready skills at the SkillsUSA state competition.
With the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference just around the corner, I started reflecting on my recent experience at the state competition in Oregon just last month. This year was my second time attending and witnessing students from across the state compete in cake decorating, pin design, carpentry, urban search and rescue, among other skills. And making a comeback this year was commercial roofing thanks to Eric, a student at McMinnville High School.
Eric stumbled into the roofing competition this year. Typically a welding student, he happened to be wearing a Carlson Roofing Company hat to class one day – Eric’s dad Mike is the current owner – which sparked a conversation with his teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Mr. Ford. After that, Eric entered the roofing competition under the mentorship of his father. If he decides to pursue roofing in the future, he would be a fifth-generation roofer!
I was lucky enough to spend the day with Eric and his family; his mom and little brother came to check in on his progress and cheer him on throughout the day. Fellow classmates, competitors and industry professionals also stopped by to see Eric in action. Stationed outside the welding classroom at McMinnville High School I witnessed some of the welding competitions taking place. I’m always so impressed by these students and what they’re capable of at such a young age.
Eric finished strong, completing all of the necessary tasks of his competition, including clean up within the allotted time of four hours. And he is advancing to the national competition taking place June 2-5 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center…