Students from 83 Florida highschools, tech centers and colleges compete in the 44th Annual SkillsUSA Competition.
This past spring, the 2011 Florida SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference drew to a close at the Manatee Civic Center in Bradenton, where over 3000 students, educators, business people and supporters from across the state gathered for the 44th annual event. In all, more than 1300 students from 83 high schools, technical centers and colleges throughout Florida competed in 188 skills and leadership contests—the largest number of contests and greatest number of schools in the history of the conference!
Ring Power Corporation supports the mission of SkillsUSA by taking part every year in the organization’s state-level competitions. This year, nine students competed in the Diesel Equipment Technology trials, which were held in Ring Power’s Sarasota’s heavy equipment shops. Tampa Training Instructor Josh Markosen volunteered his services as a judge of the contestants’ hydraulic fundamentals skills; Ring Power Training Instructor Bob Delp judged contestants on electrical fundamentals skills; Sarasota Heavy Equipment Technician James Freeman judged their electronic engine skills; Sarasota Heavy Equipment Technician Josh Ritter judged their preventive maintenance skills; and Sarasota Heavy Equipment Service Business Manager Nathan Worley judged job interviewing skills.
Dwayne Rainer, Lakeland Cat Rental Store Field Service Technician, has been involved with SkillsUSA since he was a student. In 1990, when he was class president of his school’s chapter, Rainer took first place in the Florida diesel equipment technology competition and fourth place in the National Competition. Last year, as event chairman of the diesel equipment technology competition, Rainer organized the flow of students through the skill stations and assisted with judging, tallying and submitting the final competition results. This year, Rainer served as coordinator of the competition.
Photo: Ring Power Training Instructor Bob Delp (center) explains the electrical fundamentals test objectives to SkillsUSA competitor.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).
About Ring Power Corp
Ring Power Corporation, North and Central Florida's Caterpillar dealer, is headquartered in St. Augustine, Florida. Additional heavy equipment branch locations include, Tallahassee, Lake City, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala, Perry, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Lakeland, Tampa, Sarasota, and Palm Bay. Ring Power is provides parts and service on all makes of heavy equipment repairs, both Cat and competitive machines such as Volvo, John Deere, Komatsu, Bob Cat and others.