SkillsUSA State Titles, multiple Students Advance to Nationals!
Students from SEATech Skills Center competed in the SkillsUSA Washington State Leadership and Skills Conference from March 21st through the 23rd, 2024. Through peer-to-peer competitions, students demonstrated proficiencies in some of the nation’s most in-demand skilled trade areas. Six SEATech Students will advance to the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this June.
Student participation and industry partnerships at the state conference reached an all-time high this year. Over 2,200 students participated in 97 different contests. Contests spanned over 16 career clusters, including health sciences, transportation and logistics, architecture and construction, firefighting, and more.
Career and Technical Education programs in Walla Walla Public Schools prepare students with tangible job skills relevant to modern industry standards. These programs emphasize real-world practical learning experiences, preparing high school students for their future career paths aligned with the district’s vision to develop Washington’s most sought-after Graduates.
The following students from SEATech Skills Center placed in the state competitions and all first-place winners will advance to the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this June.
Crime Scene Investigation: Advisor - Todd F. Smith
1st Place Gold - Peyton Badertscher, Raighlyn Lore, Cooper Nelson
2nd Place Silver - Armando Bacilio, Shakthi Amarasinghe, Jadon Carlile
3rd Place Bronze - Elijah Wilson, Jessika Lambert, Korben King
Criminal Justice: Advisor- Todd F. Smith
1st Place Gold - Ricky Lozano
2nd Place Silver - Annalicia DeLaRosa
3rd Place Bronze - Jordan Lozano
TeamWorks (Construction): Advisor - Eric Matson
2nd Place Silver - Austin Renwick, Dallon Huntley, Chester Bergevin, Daniel Hernandez
Aerospace Assemblers: Advisor - James Polson
1st Place Gold - Bridger Sedwick
3rd Place Bronze - Tucker Goodwin
(Ben Stillman placed 6th and Cooper Macdonald placed 13th)
Digital Cinema Production: Advisor - Andrew Sayers
1st Place Gold - Soren Thompson, Sarah Jousma
Television (Video) Production: Advisor - Andrew Sayers
2nd Place Silver - Olivia Shiffler, Natasha Kuschatka
Details about SkillsUSA Aerospace Student taking 1st below, all have a strong showing
On April 20, 2024 four students from the Advanced Manufacturing and Welding Technology class competed in the State SkillsUSA Aerospace Assembler competition. This competition was held at Boeing's Everett plant. Over 60 students competed in the event. The 6 hour competition consisted of a hands-on aerospace project and an interview. Boeing instructors judged the hands-on portion while Boeing hiring team members conducted interviews. Students could also choose to have the interview count as an official Boeing interview.
SEATech was very well represented at the competition with students finishing: Bridger Sedwick placed 1st, Tucker Goodwin 3rd, Ben Stillman 6th, Cooper Macdonald 13th
Watch a video about the manufacturing assembler competition at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5FSDeLak1w&authuser=0
Details about Careers in Media & Entertainment at State below
On Saturday, March 23rd, history was made in the city of Tacoma that would rally back to the Walla Walla Valley. SEATech Career in Media students Soren Thomson and Sarah Jousma would Walk away with the SkillsUSA State Title in Digital Cinema. In late June they will be representing Washington State in the National SkillsUSA Digital Film Contest Tournament in Atlanta Georgia.
The CME Class didn’t just stop there at state, students Olivia Shiffler and Natasha Kuschatka would take second place in the Television Productions contest as well. Students Kosmo Nerdin, and Jazz Zanger were in the top ten at the Digital Cinema contest with Soren and Sarah.
Making it to the State Leadership & Skills Conference is a challenging mountain to climb. Students have to compete and place at regional contests to be invited to state events. This year over 20 students in the CME Class at SEATech signed up to compete in two regional contests. The region that SEATech participates in stretches all the way to Spokane school districts. Students in the regional Television Contest had to submit their resumes, and a one-minute commercial, and take a skills test before the competition day. On the Day of Regionals for Television Production, students from SEATech and Faris High School competed in a 4-hour film creation and edit contest. One Spokane team and Oliva and Natasha were awarded an invitation to the state contest. The regional Digital Cinema contest is very similar to the TV Productions but focused on movie production rather than advertising. Students were required to write, film, and produce a 5-minute short film within a 3-week window. A week before the deadline students had to submit their resumes, scripts, and storyboards. On the day of the contest, students had to take a written skills test and create a trailer for their short film to be submitted to judges in Walla Walla and Spokane.
Jazz, Kosmo, Sarah, Soren, and one Spokane team were given invitations to the state conference.
The state prep work in both Digital Cinema and Television Production mirrored the regional with a few changes. Students would have only two weeks to complete their films and commercials. Students now would take a larger skills test for industry. The week before the state contests the SEATech teams would submit two amazing short films and a compelling commercial for industry.
At State, the contests would have a few extra surprises as well. Olivia and Natasha would be competing with 9 other teams to create commercials that would require them to film scenes all over Clover Park Technical College where the SkillsUSA State Conference would be held. They would be required to bring cameras, lighting, and sound equipment, film interviews all around campus, and create a finished commercial in about 5 hours. The contest was challenging and by the closest margins, Oliva and Natasha placed 2nd. “As an educator I couldn't be more proud of their accomplishments and where they are going in industry,” said Advisor, Andrew Sayers.
The Digital Cinema would be a major curve ball for our two teams at state. Teams expected to be editing their footage at state, but instead they were given a script and two raw film clips to edit from a movie production. Students would have to combine the two scenes that naturally didn't go together, fix a number of audio issues, and correct the color of the scenes to look more natural. After about 4 hours of editing Kosom, Jazz, Soren, and Sarah emerged from the editing room. It wouldn't be until the next day that they would find out the results of the contest.
SkillsUSA’s more than 100 career competitions are represented by specific career clusters. SEATech is thrilled this year to bring back state accolades with Criminal Justice, Construction, and Careers in Media and Entertainment. Soren and Sarah bringing back a state title is a first for the Careers in Media & Entertainment Program. Andrew Sayers commented, “I hoped to see them on the podium at state but never imagined we would bring this title back to our community and school. This title is a first for the program and the staff and students are excited about what doors this will open up for the future.”
In the coming weeks, Soren and Sarah will be given another film to create before leaving for the National SkillsUSA Digital Film Contest Tournament in Atlanta Georgia in late June. Please send your best wishes for their prep time as they are nearing graduation and also looking to compete in such a great opportunity for the community.
Here is a video that gives you a first-hand recap of the state conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4uBAaVhFUM&ab_channel=SkillsUSAWashington
Sayers said, “In the fall near the start of school I talked to both of my classes about SkillsUSA, and to see what content our class achieved is clearly breathtaking. It's truly an honor to work with students in the Walla Walla Valley and to help connect them to future careers. SEATech isn't just a great skills center for the valley, it's a career launch pad.”
