They've got the skills- Coventry High School

04/07/2007

They've got the Skills

Amanda K. Lowe , Daily Times

COVENTRY - Students from Coventry High School will be showcasing their talents in Kansas City this summer.
The 31st annual Skills USA Ceremony was held last month and the Regional Career and Technical Center at Coventry High School had more than 30 students take part in 14 competitions against students from nine other Rhode Island career centers.

According to the SkillsUSA Web site, Skills USA "is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations."

"The SkillsUSA Championships is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation," the Web site states. "Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers' needs."
Of the 30 Coventry students who participated in the championship, three students won gold medals.

Jenna Ponder, a senior, received a gold medal in child development.

"It was a really great experience," Ponder said. "I competed against nine other girls from all over Rhode Island. It was challenging but it was also fun. I was very excited that I won. I didn't really expect it, I competed last year and got fifth place."

Senior Kelly Dussault won a gold medal in Health Occupations/EMT.

"I was very excited that I won," Dussault said. "I did it for my parents and teachers, and I think my medal reflects my teachers' teaching ability. It was gratifying to see them so happy and proud of me."

Robert Malouin Jr., also a senior, received a gold medal in Carpentry/Construction.

"It was an awesome experience," Malouin said. "I didn't expect the gold medal at all. I was truly shocked."
The three gold medalists will be competing in the National SkillsUSA competition in June in Kansas City, Missouri.
Senior Shane Sprague was honored in Advertising Design. His design for the SkillsUSA Rhode Island Judge pin will be worn by judges at next year's competition.

"I worked on the design for one month," Sprague said. "I was really surprised that I won. There were 100 or so really great designs."

Several other Coventry students won second and third place medals. Bradford Lyon in Electronics and Computers, Zachary Stiles in Computer Maintenance Technology, Vanessa Marsocci and Amanda Wilson in Culinary Arts and Baking, and a Graphic Communications and Printing team, Megan Knight and Gabe Izzo, all received second place in the competition.
Jonathon Iarossi in Manufacturing and Precision Machining and Susan Yaekel in Culinary Arts and Baking received third place.

Jim Kiley, co-adviser of SkillsUSA at Coventry High School, said he was proud of all the hard work Coventry Career Center students put into the competition.

"SkillsUSA is probably one of the most awesome opportunities for kids to be recognized in their efforts in their chosen career paths," Kiley said. "They showcase these efforts in the state competition. The gold medalists will be able to go to Kansas City to represent the state of Rhode Island and represent their career in an incredible, culminating, breath-taking event. The teachers in the Career and Technical Center are so proud of these kids. A lot of kids go through their high school career without getting recognized for their hard work. These kids have been recognized and it is great. I am so excited for these students and they have a brought a great sense of accomplishment to the whole school."