DCTC placed 21 times with six gold medal winners
A total of 54 DCTC students competed in the SkilllsUSA state competition held at DCTC and the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Bloomington on April 11 -12, 2015. DCTC students competed against other colleges in Minnesota and DCTC students placed 21 times with six gold medal winners.
Students who placed first in the state will advance to nationals and compete against award winning students in the nation in their chosen field. This is the first year DCTC will be represented at the national level in Information Technology Services.
SkillsUSA is a national non-profit organization for students in trade, industrial, technical, and health occupation programs in community and technical colleges. SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA conferences allow participants to demonstrate career skills, enhance presentation skills, increase networking opportunities and allow for feedback from industry professionals. Over 50 SkillsUSA competitions are held that relate to programs of study at DCTC.
On April 12, participants, advisors, administration, honorees, family and guests gathered for the awards ceremony. Jen Polz, SkillsUSA MN Executive Director, welcomed everyone and presented awards and competition results. Elise Groenwold, DCTC Alumna and National Bronze Medal winner in 2014 in Collision Repair Technology, was the keynote speaker for the opening ceremony on Friday, April 11.
SKillsUSA 2015
DCTC Early Childhood and Youth Development student, Joy Davitt, won the Early Childhood Post-Secondary Gold medal. She noted, “It’s not about the award. It’s about seeing how far you can use your knowledge of early childhood education and apply it in a professional setting. Through the competition, I gained a new perspective of how I can push myself to limits I thought I would not be able to reach. And today, I was able to reach them!”
Dawn Braa, DCTC ECYD instructor commented, “What a great weekend! I am so proud of my students. It was amazing to see them apply what they learned in class and have such rewarding results.”
View more information about DCTC’s SkillsUSA chapter or contact Anna Voight at anna.voight@dctc.edu or 651-423-8649 with any questions.
| First Name | Last Name | Competition(s) | Place | Advisor(s) |
| Kevin | Day | Computer Programming | 1 | Scott Determan |
| Miriam | Vergara | Customer Service | 1 | Harold Torrence |
| Joy | Davitt | Early Childhood Education | 1 | Dawn Braa |
| Justin | Sinkula | Information Technology Services | 1 | Scott Determan |
| Sarah | Compton | Medical Math | 1 | Kathy Tettam |
| Jessica | Trussell | Medical Terminology | 1 | Kathy Tettam |
| Jacob | Strand | Diesel Equipment Technology | 2 | Ken Klassen & Brent Newville |
| Kaily | Blount | Early Childhood Education | 2 | Dawn Braa |
| Matthew | Pranke | Industrial Motor Control | 2 | Ron Gruenes & Mike Buck |
| Thomas | Snell | Job Interview | 2 | Roger Gartner, Joel Fogarty, Leah King |
| Scott | Maki | Job Skill Demonstration A | 2 | Ron Gruenes & Mike Buck |
| Kari | Pearson | Medical Terminology | 2 | Kathy Tettam |
| Geoffrey | Blalock | Quiz Bowl | 2 | Scott Determan |
| Sarah | Compton | Quiz Bowl | 2 | Scott Determan |
| Kevin | Day | Quiz Bowl | 2 | Scott Determan |
| Justin | Sinkula | Quiz Bowl | 2 | Scott Determan |
| Dillon | Weiman | Quiz Bowl | 2 | Scott Determan |
| Joe | Wright | Auto Refinishing Technology | 3 | Gerry Rainford & Scott Logan |
| Reece | Christenson | Industrial Motor Control | 3 | Ron Gruenes & Mike Buck |
| Matt | Bagan | Information Technology Services | 3 | Scott Determan |
| Tony | Markstrom | Job Skill Demonstration A | 3 | Ron Gruenes & Mike Buck |
| Jen | Peters | Medical Terminology | 3 | Kathy Tettam |
| Kjerstin | McKeehen | Photography | 3 | Darrell Tangen |
| Kevin | Day | Prepared Speech | 3 | Mark Grant |
| Nathan | Andres | Welding | 2 | Tim Felch |
Top Image:
(back row, left to right) Rachel Wegman, Matt Bagan, Kevin Day, Justin Sinkula, Scott Maki, Eric Haugen, Dillon Weiman, Kierstin McKeehen, Nathan Anders, Tom Snell
(front row, left to right) Jessica Trussell, Kari Pearson, Joy Davitt, Kaily Blount, Jen Peters, Sarah Compton
