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CTE students compete at SkillsUSA

Photo courtesy of Copper Country ISD Career & Technical Education CCISD CTE Automotive Technology Instructor, David Narhi, presents awards and tools donated by local parts stores to SkillsUSA competitors Connor Berg, Jesse Pelli, and Zander Worm all from Calumet High School.

HANCOCK — On Feb. 18, Copper Country ISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) students in the Automotive Technology program competed virtually against CTE peers from three other U.P. programs in the annual SkillsUSA Competition. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, programs competed in-house and sent scores to the U.P.’s regional office in Escanaba. In typical years, the SkillsUSA competition hosts over 300 students at Bay Community College where they participate in various CTE competitions in hopes of moving on to the corresponding state and national competitions.

Similar to last year’s event, CCISD CTE students placed very well in competition with their regional peers across the U.P. Virgil Mongozid, from Baraga High School, placed first locally and third regionally in the Vehicle Inspection category. Students had 10 minutes to complete a comprehensive vehicle inspection, offer suggestions for repair, and document any abnormalities. Other CCISD students who participated in this category were Connor Berg and Jesse Pelli (both from Calumet High School), who finished second and third respectively in the local competition.

Zander Worm from Calumet High School placed first regionally for the second year in a row in the Maintenance and Light Repair Overall category. This competition includes six, ten-minute practical exercises in six of the eight major vehicle systems and a written examination on all eight systems. The CCISD CTE program would like to thank Advanced Auto Parts of Houghton and Hancock, Auto Value of Houghton, AutoZone of Houghton, and O’Reilly Auto Parts of Houghton for generous donations of tools that were awarded to each participant.

“It’s a great confidence booster that you can believe in yourself and yes I can do this; I do belong in the automotive field,” said Worm.

“This is a great opportunity for students to not just go through the motions of class, but demonstrate what they have learned in class and in the shop,” said David Narhi, CTE Automotive Technology instructor worked with his peer instructors to put together the competition for students across the U.P. “I am proud of my students’ work and participation in the competition. They did very well and I am also happy the other instructors and I could put something together for them to test their knowledge, skills, and abilities.”

Photo courtesy of Copper Country ISD Career & Technical Education Zander Worm, Copper Country ISD CTE Automotive Technology student from Calumet High School takes a measurement during the recent SkillsUSA Maintenance and Light Repair Overall competition. Worm placed first for the second consecutive year in this highly technical and broad ranging category against other CTE programs in the U.P.

The status of the next state and regional competitions are still being determined.

For more information about the CCISD Career & Technical Education’s Automotive Technology or any other program visit their webpage at copperisd.org/career-technical-education/ or by calling the office at 906-482-4250 extension 300.

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