MHS Skills USA excels at State Competition

Daniel Bueno

Seven MHS SkillsUSA students traveled to Linn-Benton Community College in Albany to compete in the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Competition April 11-12.

The students placed as follows: In Quiz Bowl, Katie Kenville, Erik Leon, Ezra Pasikatan, Josriel Pasikatan and Trevor Schongalla placed 3 rd. In Related Technical Math Josriel Pasikatan place 3 rd, Ezra Pasikatan placed 4 th , and Trevor Schongalla placed 6 th. Katie Kenville and Erik Leon placed 5 th in Web Design, and Daniel Bueno placed 5 th in Advertising Design.

Conference attendee Celina Avila said, “Practicing and competing was fun, so more people should go next time.”

The SkillsUSA club is in its second year at MHS and has already seen exponential success at the past two state conferences. “I can’t even explain how proud I am of the group. They are constantly surprising me,” said Advisor Colleen Fletcher.

SkillsUSA is a national student leadership organization serving high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA was formerly known as VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). More than 285,000 student and instructors join SkillsUSA annually, organized into more than 15,000 sections and 54 state and territorial associations.  SkillsUSA has served more than 9.3 million members.