(Bradenton, FL—April 27, 2017) Many Manatee Technical College students were all smiles as they arrived back on campus Wednesday—most of them wearing their medals around their necks—after enjoying many successes at the 2017 state SkillsUSA competitions. The Florida SkillsUSA Skills and Leadership Conference was held in Lakeland, April 23-26. MTC students won 75 medals: 36 gold, 21 silver and 18 bronze.
In a show of force, MTC’s Collision Repair and Refinishing students proudly took first place in every one of their four contests, which were highly competitive. Nail Care students made a clean sweep in the college division. All five of MTC’s Business Technology contestants won in the Technical Computer Applications competition.
Over 1,270 students from across the state competed in 93 contests ranging from advertising design to carpentry and mechatronics to welding sculpture. Most had college and high-school divisions. Close to 130 MTC students competed in 40 of the contests.
“This was the first time out of Manatee County for one of our students,” said SkillsUSA advisor Denise Skivers. “She won a gold medal in Technical Computer Applications. I think SkillsUSA will be life changing for her.”
First place winners will advance to the national competition in Louisville, Kentucky, in June.
SkillsUSA is a national organization that promotes excellence, employability skills and ethics to students in career and technical education to better prepare them for successful careers.
A list of winners is posted on the MTC website at /about/awards/