Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
Alex Raeder will test his skills at the national level in June after winning the Wisconsin Skills USA competition last month.
The senior was one of three Shawano Community High School students who placed at the competition held April 26-27 in Madison. Taking first in the electrical construction wiring category, Raeder is the first Shawano student in recent memory to win at the state level for Skills USA, according to adviser Jeremy Hodkiewicz.
“It’s nice to break through that wall,” Hodkiewicz said. “We’ve had some place winners but no champions, as far as I know.”
“It feels pretty good,” said Raeder, who plans to pursue a career in the electrical field. “It’s nice being the first one.”
The competition included proficiency in switches and wiring. A lot of what Raeder took into the competition came from the technology education classes he took at the high school.
“Most of it came right out of the books,” he said.
The district’s technology program grew after the school district spent $900,000 to provide bigger spaces for its technology and agriculture programs.
Raeder competed in the same category for Skills USA in 2015 and had set a goal of winning the state contest this year, Hodkiewicz said. He described Raeder as a smart student who excels in all his classes.
Raeder will get the chance to compete at the national Skills USA competition in Louisville, Kentucky, the week of June 20.
Also placing at the state contest were senior Kelsey Gast, who finished second in diesel equipment technology, and junior Jason Heinz, who placed third in collision repair.
In the diesel equipment competition, students had to conduct inspections on diesel trucks, examining valves and engine work. Job interviews and wiring diagnostics were also part of the contest.
“It feels great proving your knowledge and proving what you can do,” Gast said.
For collision repair, students had to examine wrecked vehicles and then estimate repair costs. Students were also judged on how well they fixed fenders and bumper covers, as well as their welding.
“We didn’t have the opportunity to learn this here (at SCHS), but other competitors learn it every day in school,” Heinz said. “I picked it up at home.”
Hodkiewicz hopes the students’ strong performance at the state contest will encourage more students to join the program.
“It takes time to get them to understand what the competition is all about and getting them to practice for the competition,” he said.