Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Area junior headed for national contest in June
WORLAND – Three Worland High School students, specializing in auto mechanics, swept the first, second and third places in their division at the State SkillsUSA Competition in April, with one student garnering a spot at the national competition in June.
Under the leadership of auto mechanics teacher Mike Sapp and welding instructor Casey Lewis, senior Israel “Izzy” Vega placed third, senior Gavin Weyrich placed second, and junior Tanner Allen placed first in automotive skills at the state contest in Casper April 24-26, qualifying to travel to Louisville, Kentucky, in June for the national competition.
Utilizing the skills they’ve learned in class and during Tuesday night practice sessions, held throughout the school year, the students completed a variety of skillsets at the competition, including engine measurements and tuning, brakes, transmissions, steering, timing, and vehicle electronics.
“They are graded on a 100-point scale for each skill,” noted Sapp, “and get points for competency with each task, and whether they complete the task in the time allowed.”
At the national level Allen will have to complete a written test at the competition to test his automotive knowledge, along with specialized tasks including performance tuning, air conditioning maintenance and repair, electrical evaluation and diagnostics, drive train maintenance, and basic mechanics.
According to SkillsUSA, the National Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. The multi-million dollar event, held in Louisville, Kentucky, occupies a space equivalent to 16 football fields. In 2016, there were more than 6,000 contestants in 100 separate events. Nearly 1,500 judges and contest organizers from labor and management make the national event possible.
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.