HAMBLETON – Tucker County High School students showed their expertise during competitions at the state SkillsUSA Contest in Fairmont last Saturday. The main event was at Fairmont State University, but some competitions were held in Clarksburg and M-TEC in Morgantown. Chef Carrie Shahan, ProStart Advisor, said she had one student who competed during the state competition.
“Julia Burnside competed in commercial baking,” Shahan said. “She is a sophomore. She had to make pumpkin bread, a pineapple pie, white bread and decorate a cake. She had six hours to complete all of these tasks.”
Shahan said although Julia did not place high enough in the competition to move to the national competition, she performed well.
“She did very well,” Shahan said. “I am proud of Julia.”
HOSA Advisor Stephanie Burns said she had a student that competed in the medical technology contest.
“Cheyenne Summerfield studied her medical terminology words and while at the competition, she took a test,” Burns said. “She studied using videos, flash cards and online quizlets.”
Burns said Cheyenne did well in her exam and plans to attend nursing school after graduation.
“She has a plan. She wants to attend LPN school and has already applied. She will do well,” Burns said.
In the welding fabrication competition, TCHS juniors competing include Tanner Burns, Vincent Moats and Jacob Beavers. This competition included a set of blueprints and the competitors had to build legs for a table. They also took a written test. Their competition was at M-TEC in Morgantown.
“These boys may not have placed in the top two, but they came away with so much more,” Burns said. “They learned to compete – they looked professional and learned to work well together.”
Auto Mechanics Instructor Justin Godwin said his student, Austin Podach, competed at M-TEC.
“There was a hands-on competition as well as a written component,” Godwin said. “Austin won the local competition which allowed him to compete at the state competition. Winners from the state competition move on to the national competition. Austin is a junior, so this was good experience for him.”