“This was totally unexpected,” advised 23 year old San Diego Job Corps student Joshua Andrus, who won a gold medal on February 2, 2013 at the Skills USA Region 6 Competition in San Bernardino, CA.  Andrus is enrolled in Job Corps’ Electrical Career Technical Training program and plans on pursuing a career in the electrical field.  “All of us worked hard preparing for the competition and I certainly feel great satisfaction in receiving the award.”

Job Corps’ other gold medal winner was 25 year old Zachary Spounias, a Plumbing student at the center.  “It was a great experience,” he stated.  “I love what I’m learning and it was a great opportunity to apply the skills I’m learning at Job Corps.  When I graduate I look forward to applying these skills in my career as a plumber.”

“This is the first year we’ve competed in this state-wide competition,” advised Plumbing instructor John Gallagher. “Contestants were given a written test on their knowledge of their trade and then completed a hands on practical demonstration.  They are not only competing against each other, but they are judged on their individual score to qualify for the state contest.”

“Eleven of our students competed and they won 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals,” stated Randall Mann who teaches the center’s Electrical trade.  “John and I are proud of all the students who participated because they worked hard for two months preparing for the competition.  They knew it was going to be a high quality competition, which was a good incentive for our students to be well-prepared.  Knowing that, it also increased the quality of our training on center.”

“We now have the opportunity to enter students into the Skills USA State Competition which will be held in San Diego on April 6, 2013,” Gallagher advised.  “If we achieve first place we can advance and compete in the Skills USA National Contest in Kansas City, Missouri in June.  All of this is pretty exciting for us.”