Moultrie Tech SkillsUSA Students Rank Nationally
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Moultrie Technical College’s SkillsUSA competitors stand proudly at the 2008 SkillsUSA Post-Secondary National Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri, in June. Pictured, left to right, are Jamie Dillard, Lisa Renshaw, Emily Thompson, Austin Youngblood and Jimmy Johnson. |
MOULTRIE, GA. Five Moultrie Technical College (MTC) students with first place finishes at the state level in the 2008 SkillsUSA Post-Secondary Conference in April garnered themselves a spot to compete against their fellow technical college peers from across the country at the 2008 SkillsUSA National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in June. And four of the five placed within the Top 5 in the nation in their respective categories, putting MTC on the map in terms of high quality technical training in the United States.
Emily Thompson, Tifton’s only female firefighter and the first ever hired at the Tifton-Tift County Fire Department, won third place and a bronze medal in the national firefighting competition through a written test in basic fire fighting and hazardous materials and a grueling physical test. Thompson, 22, who works full time with the department, continues taking Fire Science Technology classes at night through Moultrie Tech’s Tifton campus in pursuit of additional credentials, hoping to complete those by the end of 2008.
MTC Team members and Industrial Systems Technology students Jamie Dillard and Jimmy Johnson placed fourth in the Mechatronics competition at the national level. The Mechatronics competition calls for contestants to understand the new industrial discipline which requires the ability to understand complex systems that integrate various elements in the mechanical, fluid power and controls domain, combined with the ability to work in a team environment with people of different areas of expertise. Mechatronic specialists must have well-developed skills in pneumatic technology, electrical and electronics systems, mechanical systems and general automation techniques and practices, including systematic troubleshooting methods.
Cosmetology student Lisa Renshaw placed fifth nationwide in the Job Skills Demonstration category with her exhibition of aptitude in haircutting, hair styling and longhair design in four separate tests. All work was performed on mannequins as Renshaw recreated both men’s and women’s haircuts from finished photos.
MTC Construction student Austin Youngblood competed in the Plumbing Demonstration contest and placed eleventh nationally. Professional plumbers and pipe fitters judged the contestants on the basis of accuracy, workmanship, proper selection and use of tools and supplies, and proper safety practices.
