Wiregrass Georgia Technical College had an overwhelming showing at the 2019 SkillsUSA State Championship in Atlanta this past weekend.   The college brought back 26 gold, 23 silver, and 10 bronze medals in the skills competition among other colleges.  The college medaled in 83% of the contests the students competed in and 67% of Wiregrass students who competed earned a medal.  Among the gold medal count is the Gold Chapter of Distinction level award for the second year in a row. Wiregrass’ SkillsUSA Chapter was also recognized for Largest Member Growth and Largest Chapter again this year.
 
Kelley Wetherington, Campus Life Coordinator and SkillsUSA Advisor, worked hard this year to recruit students for the organization and to help coordinate the service projects that led them to win the gold level Chapter of Distinction award.  For the second year in a row, the Wiregrass Chapter was recognized for the largest chapter increase of members (81), and the largest chapter, with 180 members.  The Chapter had 89 students compete in 48 contests, and brought home 59 medals. “I am beyond proud of the students and advisors for their dedication, sacrifice, and hard work that they put in this year,” shared Wetherington.  “Not only did the students put in extra time perfecting their skills for competition, but they also put in extra time helping with several chapter projects in addition to juggling their college and home life.”  Some of the projects students participated in were “Give our Neighbors a Helping Hand,” for hurricane relief; Paladins Wars, an esports gaming competition, “What’s in your brand?”, how to prepare for job interviews, and Tiaras and Ties, a project to support individuals with special needs attending the Tim Tebow Night to Shine Proms.
 
Wiregrass Tech has 26 gold medalists who will now compete at the National SkillsUSA competition in Kentucky this June after winning top place at the state-wide competition.   SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers, high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skills service occupations, including health occupations.

The SkillsUSA program hosts local, state, and national competition for students to showcase their skills learned through hands-on training in the classroom.  Wiregrass also had 23 students who earned silver medals, and 11 with bronze medals.  

“Wiregrass is extremely proud of all our students who participated in the SkillsUSA competition.  Our instructors did an excellent job preparing students for state competition,” stated Wiregrass President Dr. Tina K. Anderson. “We are especially proud to have twenty-six gold medals including gold for Chapter Distinction, twenty-three silver, and ten bronze. Wiregrass will be well represented at the National SkillsUSA Championships in June.  We congratulate these students, faculty, and advisors.”
 
Wiregrass students who competed and won gold include and will go on to represent Wiregrass Georgia Tech at the SkillsUSA National Championships in June in Louisville, Kentucky:

James Grobsmith (Barbering), Valdosta Campus in Barbering

ShaDawn Powell (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Career Pathways in Health Care Science

Emily Anderson (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Career Pathways in Health Care Science

Carson Poindexter (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Career Pathways in Health Care Science

Clay Schools (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in CNC Milling Specialist

John Lake, (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in CNC Technician

Jeffrey Betts (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in CNC Turning Specialist

Heather Bennett (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Community Service

Deric Jackson (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Community Service

Jeff Gary (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Community Service

Caleb Wells (Computer Support), Valdosta Campus in Computer Programming

Abigail Abonza (Business Technology), Coffee Campus in Entrepreneurship

DeMorrio Hansley (Business Management), Coffee Campus in Entrepreneurship

Jacquelyn Mitchell (Business Management), Coffee Campus in Entrepreneurship

Dasha Morgan (Business Management), Coffee Campus in Entrepreneurship

Don Reeves (Cybersecurity), Valdosta Campus in Information Technology Systems

Geremy Brantley (Gaming Development), Valdosta Campus in Interactive App and Video Game Creation

Steven Sauls (Computer Programming), Valdosta Campus in Interactive App and Video Game Creation

Rose Sysskind (Advanced Patient Care), Valdosta Campus in Nurse Assisting

Hope Vaughn (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Pin Design

Ginna Chaney (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Promotional Bulletin Board

Emilie Hall (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Promotional Bulletin Board

Chris Rampley (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in Promotional Bulletin Board

Andrea Jacobsen (Accounting) in T-Shirt Design

Morgan Davis (Welding), Valdosta Campus in Welding

Andy Francis (Welding), Valdosta Campus in Welding Art Sculpture

Silver medal winners from Wiregrass were:

Eric Arroyo (Gaming Development), Valdosta Campus in 3-D Visualization and Animation

Andrew Ngo (Gaming Development), Valdosta Campus in 3-D Visualization and Animation

Nathan Storey (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in Automated Manufacturing Technology

Chad Fletcher (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in Automated Manufacturing Technology

Ransom Weidner (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in Automated Manufacturing Technology

Tae Anderson (Automotive Collision Repair), Valdosta Campus in Automotive Refinishing

Nichola Herman (Culinary Arts), Valdosta Campus in Commercial Baking Technology

Brandi Blair (Cybersecurity), Valdosta Campus in Cybersecurity

William Weber (Cybersecurity), Valdosta Campus in Cybersecurity

Hugo Coadou (Digital Media Technology), Valdosta Campus in Digital Cinema Production

Jacob Bennett (Digital Media Technology), Valdosta Campus in Digital Cinema Production

Amber Brown (Cosmetology), Valdosta Campus in Entrepreneurship

Emily Fisher (Cosmetology), Valdosta Campus in Entrepreneurship

David Orr (Babering), Valdosta Campus in Entrepreneurship

Nichole Douglas (Cosmetology), Valdosta Campus in Entrepreneurship

Mason Williams (Industrial Systems Technology), Valdosta Campus in Industrial Motor Controls

Jessica Blackburn (Culinary Arts), Valdosta Campus in Job Skills Demonstration A

Joyce Singletary (Neuromuscular Massage Therapy), Valdosta Campus in Job Skills Demonstration Open

Kimberly Burkes (Nursing Technology), Valdosta Campus in Nursing Assisting

Sachem Lane (Culinary Arts), Valdosta Campus in Restaurant Services

Joshua Velasquez (Air Conditioning), Valdosta Campus in Sheet Metal

Daniel Yawn (Telecommunications), Ben Hill-Irwin Campus in Telecommunication Cabling

Hannah Rayburn (Radiology), Valdosta Campus in T-Shirt Design

Students who won bronze medals at the state level were:

Joseph Durrah (Gaming Development), Valdosta Campus in 3-D Visualization and Animation

Dylan Smith (Gaming Development), Valdosta Campus in 3-D Visualization and Animation

Asa Newsom (Precision Machine Tool), Valdosta Campus in CNC Technician

EmmaSue Sanders (Cosmetology), Valdosta Campus in Cosmetology

Rachel Jankowski (Esthetics), Valdosta Campus in Esthetics

Jason Richardson (information Technology Systems) Valdosta Campus in Information Technology Systems

Justin Francis (Cybersecurity), Valdosta Campus in Internetworking

Jayson McCook (Mechatronics), Valdosta Campus in Mechatronics

Bailey Williams (Mechatronics), Valdosta Campus in Mechatronics

Sachem Lane (Culinary Arts), Valdosta Campus in Restaurant Services

Other college participants include: Valdosta Campus – Jamal Clements, Arnold Drayton, Steven Daniels, Zachary Hooks, Britney Perez, Rita Jane Griffin, Lindsey Lee, Callie Witherspoon, Faith Young, Brandon Davis, Alan Daub, Chad Douglas, Caitlin Rollins, Andy Bruce, Demiven Knighton, Jennifer Osteen, Chris Andrusevich, Dakota Knudsen, and Brice Cooper; Ben Hill-Irwin Campus – Nikki Johnson, Rachel Sumner, Danautica Carter, Angie Kitrell, and Felicia Dukes; Coffee Campus – Summer Smith, Corey Carver, Morgan Ballard, Natalie Lynch, John Holloman, and Damien Cook .