GREENVILLE — The Automotive Technology Program at Greenville High School (GHS) Career Technical Center (CTC) won the Gold Medal for the SkillsUSA Ohio Championship Transportation Category, in the Career Pathway Showcase.
The presenting team of students: Senior Shelbi Miller, Juniors Austin Lacey and Nathan Remencus presented their winning project “Gaining Traction in the Automotive Industry” at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, April 11 and 12. The purpose was to recognize outstanding career tech students for their ability to present, through the design and construction of the display, the application of skills and education brought about through career and technical training.
SkillsUSA is a national organization, serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations and for further education. More than 300,000 student and advisors join SkillsUSA annually, according to Ohio SkillsUSA. These students are organized into more than 18,000 sections and 52 state and territorial associations. In Ohio, more than 29,000 students and instructors join annually.
In addition to being a presenting team member, Senior student Shelbi Miller was recognized as “Student of the Year” at the Automotive Youth Education System Auto Tech Recognition Banquet, March 2. Miller attends school half a day and works the rest of the day interning at Schultz Motors, with Mentor Ron Fair.
“Our project was born last spring while we were discussing topics with the incoming sophomores,” Miller said during the presentation. “It was clear to us the number of job opportunities in the automotive industry. We all have an interest in vehicles, but not necessarily in repairing them. There is a crisis with the baby boomers retiring and there are not enough workers to fill the skilled jobs of today. When it comes to problem solving, the most important part is reaching out to the underclassmen and educating them.”
In the past 14 years, the Greenville CTC Auto Tech students have won eleven SkillsUSA State titles, eight SkillsUSA National titles and two bronze medals in the National Tech Prep Showcase category. According to GHSCTC Auto-Tech Instructor Jim Anderson, the criteria to compete is pretty stiff. Students have to stand and present in an 8 feet cubed area, with eight minutes to present. They work on the projects all year long. Anderson said, like many before them the students have done very well.
“When we started the year, I had some reservations, because two of the three of them are extremely quiet and to be a presenter, you have to be outgoing. But they have overcome a lot of obstacles in their speaking. That is a very important part of the education and growth process too. I am very happy with the outcome.”
According to presenting team member Nathan Remencus, to get over their fear of speaking they did a lot of practicing every morning. They also reached out to the community.
“We practiced at the Junior High – talking to the seventh and eighth graders, Kiwanis International and the Elks (Lodge),” he said.
In addition to the presenting team, Anderson and Auto-Tech Instructor Travis Nicholas said that all automotive students worked very hard on this project. Each student created their own research paper and also contributed in many different ways to the final project. They also wanted to thank Greenville City Schools and the community for all of the donations and support this year.
Thursday, April, April 27, Greenville High School CTC Director/Coordinator of Technology and Virtual Academy Stan Hughes invited staff to the Auto Tech classroom, such as GHS Principal Jeffrey Cassell and Greenville City School District Superintendent Doug Fries to witness the presenting team as they received their State Gold medals.
“I appreciate the hard work you and your teachers have done,” Hughes said. “We are really proud of that.”
The presenting team will compete at the National SkillsUSA Competition, in Louisville, Ky., the week of June 19.