Skills USA wins big at state competition in San Antonio

by Jonathan Seaborn, editor-in-chief

The South Plains College SkillsUSA chapter won 13 medals in two contests at the

state competition, which was held in San Antonio on March 22-24.

“We had even more success than the previous year,” said Gary Ham, SPC instructor in automotive service technology and chapter advisor.

In the leadership contests, the business procedures team won the gold medal, and held on to their state title. Victor Bayley of Plainview, Jerred Bentley of Shamrock, John Ginter of Booker, Daniel Kidwell of Lubbock, JP Montgomery of Levelland, and Jacob Perry of Lubbock made up the team.

Some of the team members took home individual medals in business writing. Ginter won the gold medal, while Montgomery took home the silver, and Bentley earned the bronze.

Montgomery also won a gold medal in the diesel equipment contest. Bentley grabbed the bronze medal in the automotive service technology contest, and Armando Ramirez of Plains earned a bronze medal in the welding contest.

In the automotive written exam competition, Ginter took the gold, and Bentley won a silver medal. The SPC chapter also won big in the diesel written exam contest, with Montgomery taking the gold, Zeke Mora of Lubbock getting the silver, and Kidwell winning the bronze.

All the gold medal winners qualified for the national competition which will be held June 25-29, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The SPC chapter also had its first student elected as a SkillsUSA officer. Ginter was elected treasurer. Throughout the year, he will assist the organization in all avenues.

“The guys worked really hard, and their dedication and effort definitely paid off,” said Ham.

The team will now begin preparing for the national competition.