Over 100 students from U.P. high schools came to Bay College in Escanaba to be judged on job trade skills
ESCANABA -- They're fixing cars and installing hard rives on computers.
It sounds like a regular day on the job, but it's not.
“It's just like going to work,” explains SkillsUSA State Director, Tammy Brown. “When you go to work, you have to do your job and weld and fix a car, so that's what we're emulating today: job experience."
Bay College in Escanaba hosted the SkillsUSA Regional Competition today. Over 100 high schoolers from the U.P. were tested on their automotive, welding, and computer technician skills.
Gladstone senior, Kyle Feathers, was happy to put his skills to the test.
“I'm competing in Overall,” said Feathers. “So you have to do a part of everything, you know, a little bit of electrical engines, all this. It just gets you prepared for when you get out of school."
Many of the students who participate in SkillsUSA go to regular high school but also attend career centers where they get hands-on job training in their field of interest. Part of their competition today was to turn in a resume. Some of the people who judged them could be their future employers.
The event judges are local business people who are keeping a close eye on those who do well.
Brown said the pressure builds confidence in the kids. She said it gives them a chance to see that college isn't all that scary and bad.
“Once they get here and see the equipment, they know, I can do this after college,” Brown explains.
The top performers will be up against 900 competitors at the state competition in Lansing on April 15.
Michigan has always placed in the top ten in nationals.
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