April 16, 2003
TBA students hammer out golden wins
Career Tech Center participates in annual state skills competition
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Diving back into competition after a 15-year hiatus, two area Auto Body Repair program students from the Career Tech Center came home sporting gold medals.
These students and 33 others from the TBA Career Tech Center participated last Saturday in the 31st Annual Skills USA-VICA Leadership Conference and Skills Contest. Held in Lansing and drawing 1,100 vocational students from around the state, the event is designed to help students develop leadership and skills in their chosen field. Contests were held in a number of areas, including automotive, commercial baking, food and beverage service, welding, job interview and childcare. Nine area students received medals for their efforts.
The Career Tech Center's Auto Body Repair program has not fielded a competitor for approximately 15 years. This year, two students decided to enter the contests and both took first place in their area of expertise.
Jacob Lehn, an 11th grade student from Central High School, took first place in the collision repair technology category. Jason Hentschel, a 12th grade student from Central, took first place in the metal working specialist category.
"Me and Jason were surprised when we got it but we were extremely happy," said Lehn, whose father placed 11th in the same competition 20 years ago. "It was pretty tough competition, a lot of good body men were there, and there was one girl."
During the all-day event, Lehn had to repair dented fenders donated by General Motors. He also painted a panel and completed a plastic repair.
"The most challenging was the dented fenders, they were pretty big," said Lehn, who also works co-op at Traverse Auto Body and dreams of becoming a NASCAR driver.
Winning the gold medal surprised Jason Hentschel, who said both he and Lehn thought they had tanked.
"I used class skills to freshen up on welding and plastic repair and the rest was just winging it," he said. "We really thought we did terrible, with no chance in the world, so it was kind of a surprise to win it."
Jeff Zizek, an instructor in the Auto Body Repair program, noted that because the program had not sent any students to the contests in so long, Lehn and Hentschel were not sure how to get ready.
"It was doubly tough for them because we hadn't done it for so long and we didn't know how to prepare them," Zizek said. "But after the competition, all the judges said they were too hard on themselves ... that our team was one of the most talented groups they've ever seen."
The other students from the TBA Career Tech Center receiving medals at the 31st Annual Skills USA-VICA Leadership Conference and Skills Contest included:
- Amy Dychert, visual imaging technology program, gold medal in advertising and design
- Samantha Spires, culinary arts program, gold medal in commercial baking
- Pernille Kruse, culinary arts program, bronze medal in commercial baking
- Christina Knaus, culinary arts program, gold medal in food and beverage service
- Jared Diephouse, small engines program, gold medal in power equipment technology
- Moira Racich, manufacturing technology academy, silver medal in related technical math
- Brittany Gemmil, early childhood education program, bronze medal in job interview
All first place competitors qualified to attend the national contests in June in Kansas City, Mo. Winners also receive scholarships and industry awards, including tools or money to buy tools and equipment.
In addition, Jeffrey Rider from the small engines program was elected as Region V president. He will attend leadership training this summer and next year will help plan and run the regional and state competitions. Tom Tarr, an instructor in the small engines program, was named Advisor of the Year at the conference. He will be entered in the competition for national advisor of the year.