Jim Staudt and Gabe Krebs silver medalists; Perry Jones bronze medalist
Three students from Dakota County Technical College placed in the top three nationally in SkillsUSA competitions at the 55th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) June 24–28, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky. Jim Staudt, an Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology major, took home a silver medal in the Industrial Motor Control (College) competition. Gabe Krebs, a Heavy Duty Truck Technology major, took silver in the Diesel Equipment Technology (High School) competition. Perry Jones, an Auto Body Collision Technology major, was awarded a bronze medal in the Collision Repair Technology (College) competition. Gerardo Perales, a GM ASEP major, placed 13th in the nation in the Automotive Service Technology competition.
An estimated 18,000 people—students, teachers and business partners—participated in the 2019 NLSC, a weeklong SkillsUSA showcase for career and technical education students across the United States. Ron Gruenes, an Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology instructor, and Ken Klassen, a Heavy Duty Truck Technology instructor, serve as SkillsUSA chapter advisors at DCTC. Ron and Ken accompanied the DCTC students on their trip to Louisville.
Ken noted that students and advisors got the chance to see the sights in downtown Louisville via a Segway tour. “We also visited Limestone Caverns, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, the Muhammad Ali Center and Kentucky Kingdom,” he said. “All four students advanced to the NLSC by earning gold medals in their respective competitions at the SkillsUSA Minnesota Skills and Leadership Conference in April 2019. They worked exceptionally hard to achieve their success on a national stage.”
Ken added that the college’s industry sponsors, Allstate Peterbilt Group, Interstate PowerSystems and Luther Automotive Group, provided the funding that allowed the DCTC students to compete during the 2019 NLSC.
“Students who competed at the National Leadership and Skills Conference spent many hours preparing for their contests. Advisors were there to help students with resumes and preparing for the contest stations. We put in long hours as each day had a contest or meeting we needed to attend.
“The four students who represented our college worked extremely hard to get to the SkillsUSA national competitions. Our students shone at the awards ceremony as DCTC received three national medals—two silver and one bronze. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the week.”
Ken Klassen
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Faculty
SkillsUSA Chapter Advisor
Dakota County Technical College
More about SkillsUSA at DCTC…
SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupation programs at community and technical colleges. The SkillsUSA mission is empowering its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
More than 50 competitions through SkillsUSA relate to leadership development or programs of study at Dakota County Technical College. DCTC students compete against students from other colleges in Minnesota at the annual State Leadership & Skills Conference (SLSC).
Students who place first at the state level advance to the annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) to compete against the best students in the country in their chosen field. Participation in SkillsUSA is an excellent addition to any college student’s resume.
Learn more about SkillsUSA at DCTC by contacting:
Kathleen Paukert
Medical Assistant Faculty
SkillsUSA Chapter Advisor
651-423-8421
Ron Gruenes
ECMT Faculty
SkillsUSA Chapter Advisor
651-423-8563
Ken Klassen
HDTT Faculty
SkillsUSA Chapter Advisor
651-423-8402
