SkillsUSA returns from Louisville with more honors for local students

The Grays Harbor SkillsUSA Team has returned from Louisville, KY with more winners.

In a report from Aberdeen adviser Chuck Veloni, he tells KXRO that the local team comprised of students from Aberdeen, and Harbor High Schools recently competed at the 55th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference June 24-28.

Returning from Kentucky and leading the way for the combined Grays Harbor team was Harbor High graduate, and Twin Harbors Skill Center student Perla Mata with her third place finish in Medical Assisting.

Veloni said, “Perla was tested on various medical procedures, as well as her ability to analyze medical data.”

Along with her bronze medal, Perla received a $20,000 scholarship to Sullivan College. Perla’s instructor is Lindsey Kargbo.

The Aberdeen Entrepreneurship team of Michaela Leach, Daniel Hunt, Eric Eng, and Einar Sharpe placed fourteenth, judged on a business model and presentation of a hypothetical company that they formed over the course of the school year. Their instructors were Chuck Veloni and Tammy Heth.

In Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration, Cahli Birchard placed twenty-fifth. Cahli was tested on his trouble shooting skills, customer service, brazing abilities and technical knowledge and is a sophomore enrolled in the Industrial Engineering program through the Twin Harbors Skills Center.

Also competing for the Bobcats was recent Aberdeen graduates, Bryson Grenier and Andrew Shumate in Audio Production. The Aberdeen High graduates placed twenty-seventh. Andrew and Bryson were enrolled in the Radio Broadcasting class at Aberdeen.

“The Aberdeen High School Chapter of SkillsUSA would like to thank all of those who helped these students achieve their goal of demonstrating excellence at a national level.”

The Elma High School FFA announced that Elma students were named 2019 SkillsUSA Chapter Business Procedures national champions at the event.