Lamar Institute of Technology Takes Home Top Honors at Skills USA

4/25/2023

attachment image-Lamar Institute of Technology Takes Home Top Honors at Skills USA

Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) students competed in the state SkillsUSA Post-Secondary competition April 13-15 in Houston, taking home 17 gold, six silver and two bronze medals.
LIT contended against 31 Texas colleges in events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the state. Students who placed first will represent LIT at the national competition June 19-24 in Atlanta, GA.

“It is one of the most rewarding feelings seeing LIT students earn such an honor in SkillsUSA, the look on their faces when their names are called is priceless,” said Stacy Taylor

Gold medalists included HVAC, crime scene investigation, job demo A, job demo open, prepared speech, health knowledge bowl, nurse assisting, internetworking, telecom and cable, first aid CPR and welding.

“It felt amazing taking home the gold. We came in second last year and had our sights set on first place. It was a very rewarding experience,” said Robert Jones, welding program director and advisor. “Our students were so proud of themselves for what they had achieved. It was a good feeling to see the joy in their faces.”

In addition to regular classes and schoolwork, students must dedicate time outside of their studies to prepare for SkillsUSA.

“Preparing for a competition like the state welding fabrication contest takes a lot of effort and dedication,” said Jones. “Competitors must have a deep understanding of the welding process, as well as the ability to read and interpret blueprints and welding symbols. They also need to have a keen eye for detail and be able to work quickly and efficiently under pressure. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance to achieve such a feat.”

Training and preparations for nationals have already begun, but the team is already proud of their successful season.

“A huge amount of time and effort is put into practicing for these competitions, not to mention keeping up with their day-to-day work,” said Taylor. “I hope they are extremely proud of themselves and have come home with a huge sense of accomplishment that will last a lifetime.”

Congratulations to the following winners:
 
Welding (Gold)                Advisor-Robert Jones and Chance Davis
Alonzo Garza
Lucus Foxworth
Adal Perez
 
HVAC (Gold)                      Advisor-Darrell Grissom and Royce Hill
Sage Elmore
 
CSI (Gold)                           Advisor-Dennis White
Destiny Garcia
Caitlyn Johnson
Bianca McManus
 
Facilithon (Silver)            Advisor-Stacee Rashall
Whitney Pugh
 
Eletronics Technology (Silver)                    Advisor-Weldon Jacobs
David Scego
 
Nail Care (Silver)                              Advisor-Stacy Taylor
Lizabeth Sanchez
Maria Cervantes (Model)
 
Job Demo A (Gold)         Advisor-Rusty Koenig
Tyler Smith
 
Job Demo Open (Gold and Silver)            Advisor Rusty Koenig
Leslie-Rae Harris (Gold)
Jaqueline Manuel (Silver)
 
Extemporaneous Speaking (Bronze)       Advisor Stacy Taylor
Asia Ashon
 
Prepared Speech (Gold)                               Advisor Stacee Rashall
Asia Ashon
 
Health Knowledge Bowl               (Gold)   Advisor Stacy Taylor
Derriah Graham
Ncyia Jason
Brooklynn Bay
 
Technical Drafting (Silver and Bronze)   Advisor Johnny Pousson
Jacob Ryan (silver)
Trace Toutcheque (bronze)
 
Nurse Assisting (Gold)   Advisor Stacy Taylor
Brooklynn Bay Petroski
 
Internetworking (Gold)                Advisor Tim Storbeck
Langston Teel
 
Telecom and Cable (Gold)           Advisor Tim Storbeck
Zachary Dequeant
 
First Aid CPR (Gold and Silver)   Advisor Stacy Taylor
Ncyia Jason (Gold)
Derriah Graham (Silver)
Gold Medals      17
Silver Medals    6
Bronze Medals 2
 
Welding (Gold)                Advisor-Robert Jones and Chance Davis
Alonzo Garza
Lucus Foxworth
Adal Perez
 
HVAC (Gold)                      Advisor-Darrell Grissom and Royce Hill
Sage Elmore
 
CSI (Gold)                           Advisor-Dennis White
Destiny Garcia
Caitlyn Johnson
Bianca McManus
 
Facilithon (Silver)            Advisor-Stacee Rashall
Whitney Pugh
 
Eletronics Technology (Silver)                    Advisor-Weldon Jacobs
David Scego
 
Nail Care (Silver)                              Advisor-Stacy Taylor
Lizabeth Sanchez
Maria Cervantes (Model)
 
Job Demo A (Gold)         Advisor-Rusty Koenig
Tyler Smith
 
Job Demo Open (Gold and Silver)            Advisor Rusty Koenig
Leslie-Rae Harris (Gold)
Jaqueline Manuel (Silver)
 
Extemporaneous Speaking (Bronze)       Advisor Stacy Taylor
Asia Ashon
 
Prepared Speech (Gold)                               Advisor Stacee Rashall
Asia Ashon
 
Health Knowledge Bowl               (Gold)   Advisor Stacy Taylor
Derriah Graham
Ncyia Jason
Brooklynn Bay
 
Technical Drafting (Silver and Bronze)   Advisor Johnny Pousson
Jacob Ryan (silver)
Trace Toutcheque (bronze)
 
Nurse Assisting (Gold)   Advisor Stacy Taylor
Brooklynn Bay Petroski
 
Internetworking (Gold)                Advisor Tim Storbeck
Langston Teel
 
Telecom and Cable (Gold)           Advisor Tim Storbeck
Zachary Dequeant
 
First Aid CPR (Gold and Silver)   Advisor Stacy Taylor
Ncyia Jason (Gold)
Derriah Graham (Silver)