CVCC Students Bring Home Gold, Silver and Bronze at National SkillsUSA Competition

From Catawba Valley Community College Reports

2017 National Competitors Image

Catawba Valley Community College students recently won four gold medals in the SkillsUSA National Championships held in Louisville, Ky. The team finished second in the country in three other categories and third in two categories.

SkillsUSA gives students an opportunity to match skills against their peers in leadership, teamwork, citizenship, character development, and discipline specific competition. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. SkillsUSA also promotes understanding of the free-enterprise system and involvement in community service.

CVCC won the most national gold and silver medals of any SkillsUSA college chapter in the state. More than 16,000 students competed in 100 occupational and leadership skill areas at the national competition.

Gold Medal National Champions:
Crime Scene Investigation-College – Advisor: Sherry Herman – Corinne Mudd, Kathy Nguyen, Hernan Puga-Luna
Outstanding Chapter-College – Advisors: Tammy Muller & Gary Muller – Brittany Ramseur, Chad Ledford, Jacob Carr
Prepared Speech-College – Advisor: Kim Ray – Sharon Lockard
T-Shirt Design-College – Advisor: Jennifer Cobb – Markie James

Silver Second Place Winners:
Community Service-College – Advisor: Tammy Muller – Selena Kongmany, Nouda Xiong, Rocky Thao
Entrepreneurship-College – Advisors: Jeff Neuville & Gary Muller -Grace McDougall, Vanessa Sharp, Melissa Mooney, Sierra Tuttle
Crime Scene Investigation-High School – Advisor: Seth Bailey – Brian Martinez, Shelby Sipe, Summer Walsh

Bronze Third Place Winners
Advertising Design- College – Advisor: Jennifer Cobb – Connor Hooks
Screen Printing- College – Advisor: Aaron Tallman – Sierra Kelso

Other Very High Finishers –
4th Place – CNC Machining Technician-College – Advisor: Steven Rhoads – Kaleb Watson
6th Place – Technical Math – College – Advisor: Michael Boone – Nola Webb
8th Place – Entrepreneurship – High School – Advisors: Jeff Neuville and Gary Muller –
Cedric Clyburn, Karlina Ho, Valerie Stiltner and Chanler Watts
9th Place – CNC Milling – College – Advisor: Steven Rhoads – Dustin Jones
10th Place – Photography – College – Advisor: Joe Young – Shawna Huffman
11th Place – Extemporaneous Speaking – High School – Advisor: Jeff Penley – Hannah Grimes
15th Place – Prepared Speaking – High School – Advisor: Jeff Penley – Dakiyah Cowans

“Our recognition as the best chapter in the country (Outstanding Chapter) for the fourth consecutive year is a tribute to everyone related to our college,” said Gary Muller, dean of the School of Business, Industry & Technology.

CVCC’s chapter also received the Model of Excellence Award, naming it among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters in the nation. One of the highest awards bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, the award recognizes exceptional integration and application of personal, workplace and technical skills in SkillsUSA chapter activities.

CVCC SkillsUSA competitors demonstrated the depth and breadth of skills learned in the classroom through their past top national finalists in Automotive, Cosmetology, Customer Service, Esthetics, Job Interviewing and Welding.

Through the generous support of CVCC’s Board of Trustees and the CVCC Foundation, Inc., students receive the opportunity to participate in this valuable career preparation experience.

For more information about SkillsUSA activities on the CVCC campus, contact Gary Muller, 828-327-7000, ext. 4672, gmuller@cvcc.edu.