SUU Senior Places Third at National SkillsUSA Competition

Published: July 11, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minutes

Southern Utah University’s senior James C. Clark placed third in the nation in Electronics Technology last month after competing against 24 other state champions at the 43rd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Clark, a senior Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology (ECET) major at SUU, advanced to the national competition after taking first place in the Electronics Technology category at the Utah SkillsUSA competition in Salt Lake City in March.

“This was my first year participating in the SkillsUSA competition,” said Clark. “It was a good experience for me.”

Clark’s medal brings the total number of national medals earned by SUU’s electronic students to seven (four gold, one silver, and two bronze).

“These medals represent an ongoing legacy of excellence in electronics,” said Dave Ward, Associate Professor of Electronics and Technology and Director of Career and Technology Education. “Each year I encourage all of my ECET students to sign up and participate in the state’s SkillsUSA competition.”

The SkillsUSA national conference is a showcase of career and technical education students. This year’s competition featured approximately 80 occupational and leadership skill areas, with about 4,600 student participants.

“The state of Utah generally has a high number of national medalists and places very high in ranking against other states,” said Ward. “CCIET always sends at least one of their electronics students to nationals every year.”

According to SkillsUSA’s Web site, SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers, high school students, and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

For more information about SUU’s College of Computer, Integrated Engineering, and Technology programs and their SkillsUSA program, please visit www.suu.edu/ciet.

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