Thirty-two Central Georgia Technical College students recently competed in the SKillsUSA Georgia State Conference and Competition held March 23-25 in Atlanta, taking home a total of nine medals.

The medals, which included two gold, two silver and five bronze, were earned in competitions against approximately 500 other technical college students from around the state in various areas including leadership, health, trade and other technical competitions.

Lead advisor, Jeff Cope, along with English instructor, Melissa Williams, and three new advisors , Lonnie Cook, instructor of Air Conditioning Technology, Antonio Shelley, program chair for Industrial Systems, Instrumentation and Controls, and Lisa Stephens, clinical coordinator for Radiologic Technology and former competitor and state officer for SkillsUSA, were unsure of what to expect prior to the event, but said having nine students place in the competition is evidence of the study and practice students put in.

“As an advisor for SkillsUSA, it makes you proud of your students as they walk up on the stage to receive their medal in front of their peers,” said Cope, the program chair for Drafting and GIS Technology. “It is also exciting to see them go back and share their experiences with fellow classmates, which in turn sparks their interest to join SkillsUSA.”

Winners from CGTC include:

Gold

Will Purvis, Mechanical Drafting.

Alexandra Stephens, Taylor Haynes, Bryant Phelps, Hollie Koon and Megan Keen,  Health Knowledge Bowl.

Silver

Curtis Greene-Morgan, Computer Programming.

Eddie Flowers and Jason Tyre, Video Production.

Bronze

Benston Jones, Automotive Refinishing.

Michael Hampton, Cabinet Making.

Miguel Paredes, HVAC.

Josh Liles, Electronics Technology.

Anthony Stewart, Prepared Speech.

Also competing, but not placing were:

Marquis Robbins, Carpentry; Shar'dae Robeson, Early Childhood; Aaron Keels, Welding; Ben Shepard, Daren Newberry, and James Daugherty, Welding Fabrication; Lenard Moore, Job Interview; Tesia Smith, Medical Math; Chela Boone, Cosmetology; Allison Allen, Architectural Drafting; Maquisha Hollingshed, Criminal Justice; Gena Howell, Cabinet Making; Chimere Johnson, Industrial Motor Controls; Christopher Vasas, Job Skill Open; Nila Williams, Customer Service; Jeanie Spivey, Medical Terminology; Jessica Johnson, Medical Terminology.

The first place winners will be attending the National SkillsUSA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky June 19-23.  There, they will compete against winners from all across the nation in the largest display of skills training in the country.