CCTI students shine at SkillsUSA competition
From left, Jeffrey Hazelton, carpentry instructor and SkillsUSA adviser; Teegan Green, gold medal in cabinetry; Skyler Graver, silver medal in welding; Christina Graver, SkillsUSA adviser; and Kevin Kuehner, precision machining instructor and SkillsUSA adviser. LINDA HURLBURT/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Thirty-five Carbon Career & Technical Institute students took home medals at the SkillsUSA competition recently.
At last week’s meeting of the CCTI Joint Operating Committee, Principal Brent Borzak introduced two of those medal-winning students.
Teegan Green, a senior student majoring in carpentry, took home a gold medal for his efforts; while another senior, Skyler Graver, won a silver in welding.
SkillsUSA adviser Kevin Kuehner said that Teegan’s persistence was the key to his success.
“Teegan competed in 10th grade and didn’t win, went on again in 11th grade, didn’t win,” Kuehner said, “but he never got discouraged, and this year, as a senior, now has a gold medal.”
Jeffrey Hazelton, carpentry instructor and SkillsUSA adviser, said, “This was my first year being there and watching. It feels like they’re your own kids when they’re up there.”
Graver said, “I love welding. It’s not something that you’d expect when you look at me.”
She described how she is working to remove the label of “nontraditional” in majors where gender is often thought to play a role.
Kuehner said that the success of CCTI’s student is recognized by many of the competing schools.
“You’re that school in Carbon County that won all those medals” is often overheard as the students attend various competitions in the state, he said.
Overall, the CCTI students won 13 gold, 16 silver and six bronze medals. The gold medalists will now go on to the state competition.
