IOWA LAKES STUDENTS BRING HOME MEDALS
FROM STATE SkillsUSA CONFERENCE

The annual SkillsUSA state conference was held in Ankeny April 24 and 25 on the campus of DMACC. Thirty-five students represented the Iowa Lakes Community College chapter. Eleven students placed and five will advance to the national conference in late June.

Bronze medalists included Stephen Embrey, Hartley, in Marine Service; Mitchell Helle, Edgewood, in Motorcycle Service; Mara Butler, Spencer, in Power Equipment Technology; and, Cody Weaver, Algona, in Residential Wiring.

Silver medalists included Charles David Wise, Emmetsburg, in Marine Service; William Breck, Cedar Rapids, in Motorcycle Service; and Aaron Oldenburg, Jackson, Minn., in Power Equipment Technology.

Gold medalists who will advance to the national competition included Mark Hutchinson, Roscommon, Mich., in Marine Service; Joe Carroll, Spencer, in Motorcycle Service; Austin Irlbeck, Templeton, in Power Equipment Technology; and the team of Jordan Grandgenett and Brittany Baer, both of Algona, in Television (Video) Production.

Grandgenett, Baer, and Weaver are students from Algona High School who participate in Iowa Lakes Community College’s secondary programs classes.

The national conference will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, June 23-27

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving more than 285,000 high school, college students and professional members who are enrolled in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations.

SkillsUSA promotes the free enterprise system and community service. The group’s mission is based upon the premise that the craftsperson and technician must have more than just technical skills.