Ignite wins big at SkillsUSA

Feb. 19—Local youths celebrated a triumphant haul of awards, but not from the typical arenas of spelling bees or sports championships. Instead, their victories were won with power tools and real-world expertise.

SkillsUSA proudly positions itself as a remedy to the growing U.S. skills gap, equipping students with the skills required to remain competitive in the job market. Its curriculum spans 100 trade, technical, and skilled service disciplines, including electrical wiring, automotive repair, and welding.

The nonprofit organization, which serves more than 3,500 students and instructors annually, is endorsed by the Kentucky Department of Education.

In Madison County, this type of skills-based learning occurs primarily at the two Ignite Academies, North and South, located in Richmond and Berea, respectively.

This year, Regional Director Tim Pinson lauded the numerous achievements of Ignite students at the SkillsUSA Region 10 Conference and Competition, hosted for the second consecutive year at Madison Ignite North.

Pinson, who also serves as Ignite North's welding instructor, explained the logistical advantage of organizing the event at his workplace, saying, "It's easier for me to organize it at the facility that I work in because I'm also the welding instructor. and I put on the three welding contests as well. This is also the largest facility of any of the schools in this region."

The regional showdown attracted participants from Madison County, Garrard County, Estill County, Lincoln County, Mercer County, Powell County, and Anderson County. Notably, the two Ignite campuses also competed against each other in this inter-school competition.

Students showcased their prowess in both technical contests, like welding, and leadership challenges, such as public speaking.

Pinson, who is also the welding instructor at Ignite North, said that he had students win first place in welding, welding one, and welding fabrication. However, he was happy overall with all of the Ignite students.

"I'm very proud of them. They've all done very well; there were first-place winners, I think. in every program. So I'm very proud of the school as a whole," Pinson said.

All of Ignite North's skills instructors expressed confidence that their curriculum prepared pupils for both the SkillsUSA competition and the real world.

This is certainly the case for Sam Randall, a senior in the automotive program.

His instructor, James Miller, boasted that his students learn a combination of technical skills — like how to inspect vehicles, change oil and filters, and perform brake work — and soft skills, including respect, teamwork, and being honest about what they know and don't know.

Sam said that his classes are what led him to have his own job, which is what the young auto aficionado says snagged him a first-place SkillsUSA win in the maintenance and light repair competition.

According to Randall, he had to identify suspension components on vehicles, change out a tire and balance it, complete a vehicle inspection, use a tool to pull maintenance codes from the vehicle's computer, run diagnostics, and torque lug nuts in the SkillsUSA competition.

It was nothing new for Randall, who said, "Life is what prepared me for the competition. You know, I've already got a job working down at Miller's Tire. I do all the competition stuff at work. It's all the same stuff, pretty much."

Gordon proudly said of Ignite students, "Our kids don't get paper cuts and pencil pokes. Our kids smash a finger with a hammer or whatever else. But, you know, that is the real world."

Top students will be competing at the State Leadership Conference in Louisville this April for a chance to go to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

The following students won awards at the regional SkillsUSA competition:

First place

Sam Randall, Ignite North

Dylan Flectcher, Ignite North

Bryon Locker, Ignite North

Samuel Chen, Ignite North

Caden Lower and James Rosencrans, Ignite North

Caleb Lineman, Ignite North

Andrew Palmer, Ignite North

Peyton Releford, Ignite North

Sam Kilcoyne, Ignite North

Aaron Pyzik, Madison Southern

Madison Frederick, Ignite North

Isaac Reed, Ignite South

Graydon MArtin, Ignite South

Scotty Rowlette, Ignite South

Lily Moody and Zoey Pinson, Ignite North

Cameron Cushman, Ignite North

Brenden Wright, Ignite North

Brayden Bentley, Ignite North

Dylan Curry, Mike Martin, Brayden Thomas, Ignite North

Abigail Brooks, Ignite North

Second place

Walker Caywood, Ignite North

Jarret Spivey, Ignite North

Isabella Stocking, Ignite North

Logan Hillard, Ignite North

Brady Hoskins, Ignite North

Zach Cook, Ignite North

Adam Palmer, Ignite North

Homer Melton, Ignite North

Dawson Sell, Ignite South

Trenton Ross, Ignite South

Third place

Ethan Woods, Ignite South

Cody Thornberry, Ignite North