Downingtown, PA – The Center for Arts & Technology (CAT) is proud to announce that three of its students were named state champions at the Pennsylvania Skills USA Competition. Timothy Rickards, Troy Cronce and Nate Ewing placed first in their events. In addition, Justin Gillander and William Martin placed third.
For the second year in a row, Timothy Rickards, a senior from Coatesville in the commercial and graphic arts program at the Center for Arts & Technology Brandywine Campus, has out talked his peers from across the state to earn a spot at the National Skills USA competition in Kansas City, Missouri, June 24-27, 2008.
Rickards placed first in Prepared Speech at the Pennsylvania Skills USA competition in Hershey, Pa. April 1-3. He competed against the first place winners from regional competitions held across the commonwealth. His topic, Skills USA Champions at Work, was assigned by the Skills USA National Committee. According to Rickards, the committee assigns the same topic to students competing throughout the nation.
Based on the judge’s comments, Rickards speech was well- rehearsed, kept the audience’s attention and guided the listener logically through the opening statement through to its conclusion.
As for winning first place in the state competition for two years in a row, Rickards is just glad to have his second win behind him.
“It’s kind of a relief that I didn’t let people down who expected as much of me this year as last year,” said Rickards.
Regarding his chances at nationals this year, Rickards is still trying to comprehend that he is going: “It’s still not quite a reality to me this year. It’s such a big experience. I don’t feel excited yet. It’s something that’s hard to grasp,” he said.
In the 2007, Rickards placed seventh in the nation.
Accompanying Rickards to Kansas City are CAT Pickering classmates Troy Cronce and Nate Ewing. Cronce took first place in motorcycle repair and Ewing finished first in auto collision refinishing. Both students are from the Owen J. Roberts School District.
While not advancing to the national competition, Justin Gillander received a third place trophy in Electronic Applications, William Martin placed third in Industrial Motor Control, and Michael Cress placed seventh in power equipment technology. Gillander is a student from the Owen J. Roberts School District, Martin is from the Oxford Area School District, and Cress is from the Phoenixville Area School District.
According to the Skills USA Web site the national competition brings together “more than 5,000 outstanding career and technical education students—all state contest winners—to compete hands-on in 93 different trade, technical and leadership fields.
“Students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations like electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry.
“Leadership contestants (such as Rickards) demonstrate skills including extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings by parliamentary procedure.”
The Center for Arts & Technology is a public high school specializing in career and technical education. It has campuses located in Coatesville and Phoenixville, and a third career and technical high school, the Chester County Technical College High School, will open this September in West Grove. All three schools are free public high schools serving students in grades nine through 12. For more information, please visit www.catschools.org
