SkillsUSA is a club that allows students to compete in competitions based on their trade, vocation, or skills. There are competitions in everything from carpentry to button design. Recently, the Wisconsin state SkillsUSA competitions were held in Madison at the Alliant Energy Center.

The competitions took place over two days, testing students’ ability to compete in the professional world by allowing them to demonstrate industry standard skills through a number of means. Some students took a test, did a mock interview, others turned in a pre-finished piece (for example, the t-shirt designs), or competed by being given a task such as making a logo or styling a training mannequin’s hair depending on their specific competition.

Overall, Madison College did well at the state competitions this year; students garnered 23 medals, 10 of which were gold. In addition, in two competitions, the Job Interview competition and the Cosmetology competition, Madison College students won first, second and third place. The cosmetology students held hands at their podiums, taking a collective bow together in solidarity.

Madison College students who received awards were:

• Automated Manufacturing Technology (Team C) – Gold: Paul Berthelon Lathrop, George Kattermann, Alex Kolb.
• Additive Manufacturing (Team A) – Gold: Tim Myers, Amadeo Verstegen.
• Welding Fabrication – Gold: Colton Bentheimer, Kirkland Hill, Vincent Ponti; Silver: Mathias Boehm, Greg Passch, Jill Ripp.
• Cosmetology – Gold: Kirsten Adler; Silver: Jami Guimond; Bronze: Ashley Young.
• Advertising Design – Gold: Alexandra Christensen.   
• Diesel Equipment Technology – Gold: Ethan Stewart.
• Technical Drafting – Gold: Josiah Thompson; Silver: Brandon Pedracine.
• Job Skills Demonstration A – Gold: Monica Mielke; Silver: Luke Wickus.
• State Pin Design – Gold: Kelsey Bredlow; Silver: Devin Haag.
• Job Interview – Gold: Katrina Willis; Silver: Josiah Thompson; Bronze: Nikki Custer.
• Extemporaneous Speech – Bronze: Ben Corda.
• Job Skills Demonstration Open – Bronze: Amadeo Verstegen.
• Prepared Speech – Bronze: Tim Myers.    
• Cabinetmaking –Bronze: Danielle King.            
• Automotive Refinishing Technology – Silver: Austin Juve.