Fred Eberle students compete in Local SkillsUSA Competition, move on to state, national conferences

Beckie Boyd
February 16, 2024

BUCKHANNON – Stakes and tensions were high at Fred W. Eberle Technical Center Thursday as students competed during the annual Local SkillsUSA Competition.

Fred Eberle Technical Center is the first multi-county career technical center established in the state of West Virginia. This multi-county career technical center offers high school-aged students as well as adults the opportunity to explore technical trades offered on their campus in Buckhannon.

Thursday’s Local SkillsUSA Competition called on high school and adult students from each trade program at FETC to complete a variety of tasks based on the fundamentals of their respective programs.

“[The students are] putting out their best. They’re showing off what they learned and taking pride in what they do,” said FETC Collision Repair Instructor Scott Currence.

*FETC HVAC students competing Thursday / All photos by Beckie Boyd*

As described on the SkillsUSA WV website, the student-led SkillsUSA program “empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA WV improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.”

Each testing location on the campus of FETC grew quiet in concentration as the stopwatch click marked the beginning of each testing session. Fellow peers anxiously watched on as their friends and classmates were hard at work.

Second-year Allied Health student and the school’s SkillsUSA Reporter Katlyn Tenney offered advice to students seeking a seat in a FETC classroom and joining the prestigious SkillsUSA organization.

“Keep on top of your grades and attendance because it shows your work ethic,” Tenney said. “We need upbeat [students] who want to be involved. That’s the best way to become part of SkillsUSA is to be involved, keep your ideas out [there] and give everybody a chance to say something.”

*A welding student hard at work during the competition / All photos by Beckie Boyd*

Many of the day’s judges were alumni of the Center and SkillsUSA participants themselves.

A 2012 graduate of FETC joined the judge’s team Thursday to shine a light on a student’s upcoming journeys to the leadership and skills conferences at the state and national levels. He offered some words of wisdom as he had placed well at the local, state and national levels himself.

“Always remember your fundamentals,” said Jeremy Matko, a 2012 graduate of the FETC Electrical Technology program. “Don’t be afraid to step back and take a look at the project. Every little detail [of the project] builds off of the basics. Learn the basics and you can run with [any project].”

Students, family members, FETC instructors and administration then gathered at Buckhannon-Upshur High School auditorium Thursday evening to learn their own fate, alongside their fellow competitors.

Students placing first in the local competition will then participate in the 2024 SkillsUSA WV State Leadership and Skills Conference that will take place March 22-23, 2024 at Fairmont State University.

*FETC’s Local SkillsUSA Competition winners gathered for a group photo following the awards ceremony Thursday evening at B-UHS / All photos by Beckie Boyd*

There, “more than 800 outstanding career and technical education students will compete hands-on in 65 different trade, technical and leadership fields” as seen on the SkillsUSA website. Those students who place at the state competition will then move onto the 2024 SkillsUSA National Championship June 24-28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about the SkillsUSA West Virginia State and National Competitions on the SkillsUSAWV.org website.

Follow FETC on Facebook for frequent updates on student projects, upcoming events and more.

*FETC Carpentry students during the Local SkillsUSA Competition Thursday / All photos by Beckie Boyd*

See 2024 Local SkillsUSA Competition Results below:

Automotive Technology – Terry Ervin / Instructor

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY – SECONDARY

1st Place – Nathan Hoover – Upshur County
2nd Place – Bryce Cogar – Upshur County
3rd Place – Easton Brewster – Upshur County

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY – POST-SECONDARY

1st Place – Hunter Rush – Randolph County

Carpentry – Randy Cunningham / Instructor

CARPENTRY – SECONDARY

1st Place – Aiden Howe – Barbour County
2nd Place – Cory Davidson – Upshur County
3rd Place – Hunter Starett – Lewis County

CARPENTRY – POST-SECONDARY

1st Place – Benjamin Haddix – Randolph County

Collision Repair – Scott Currence / Instructor

COLLISION REPAIR – SECONDARY

1st Place – Leah Bennett – Upshur County
2nd Place – Payden Pringle – Upshur County
3rd Place – Slaton Kowalkoski – Upshur County

Cosmetology – Mary Hull & Crystal Moss / Instructors

COSMETOLOGY – SECONDARY

1st Place – Channing Carson – Lewis County
2nd Place – Kamryn Franklin – Lewis County
3rd Place – Jacob Johnson – Lewis County

COSMETOLOGY – POST-SECONDARY

1st Place – Brittany Mackey – Upshur County
2nd Place – Kendra Riley – Upshur County
3rd Place – Hailey Bonnett – Randolph County

Diesel Equipment – Charles Smith / Instructor

DIESEL EQUIPMENT – SECONDARY

1st Place – Tyler Weese – Lewis County
2nd Place – Colten Taylor – Lewis County
3rd Place – Ian Shaver – Lewis County

Electrical Technology – Electrical Construction Wiring – Robert Lowther / Instructor

ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION WIRING – SECONDARY

1st Place – Curtis Given – Upshur County
2nd Place – Isaac Elmore – Upshur County
3rd Place – Jacob Gray – Barbour County

Electrical Construction Wiring – John Marteney / Instructor

ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION WIRING – POST-SECONDARY

1st Place – Derek Estes – Upshur County
2nd Place – Matt Defibaugh – Randolph County
3rd Place – Daniel Snider – Barbour County

Electrical Technology – Robert Lowther / Instructor

INDUSTRIAL MOTOR CONTROL – SECONDARY

1st Place – Tucker Burr – Upshur County
2nd Place – Sydney Holbert – Barbour County
3rd Place – Nathan Copley – Lewis County

Allied Health & Therapeutic Services – Amie Hawkins & Allison McWhorter / Instructors

FIRST AID & CPR – SECONDARY

1st Place – Kaylin Tinney – Lewis County

HEALTH KNOWLEDGE BOWL – SECONDARY

1st Place Team – Alyssa Abel – Upshur County, Hodge’Nay Henderson – Upshur County, Abby Kelley – Upshur County and Taylor Spratt – Upshur County

MEDICAL MATH – SECONDARY

1st Place – Paige Koon – Upshur County

HEALTH OCCUPATIONS PORTFOLIO – SECONDARY

1st Place – Katie Smith – Lewis County

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY – SECONDARY

1st Place – Emmalea Lipps – Upshur County
2nd Place – Casey Kelley – Upshur County

HVAC – Dakota Workman / Instructor

HVAC – SECONDARY

1st Place – Matt Adams – Upshur County
2nd Place – Jaeger Burch – Upshur County
3rd Place – Isaac Francis – Lewis County

HVAC – POST-SECONDARY

1st Place – Josh Amick – Harrison County
2nd Place – Tom Derico – Lewis County
3rd Place – Ryan Kiernan – Upshur County

Computer Repair – Chad McKisic / Instructor

COMPUTER REPAIR – SECONDARY

1st Place – Tiffany Miller – Upshur County
2nd Place – William Coe – Upshur County
3rd Place – Rylan Cain – Upshur County

Welding Technology – Welding Fabrication – Billy Poling / Instructor

WELDING FABRICATION – SECONDARY

1st Place Team – Jacob Hellems – Lewis County, Jacob Lowther – Upshur County, Jeremy Streets – Upshur County
2nd Place Team – Andrew Morris – Barbour County, Logan Shriver – Barbour County, Taran Thomason- Barbour County
3rd Place Team – Daniel Boise – Barbour County, Payton Paulhamus – Upshur, Isaac Thomas – Barbour County

Welding Technology – Post-Secondary – Trey Fulton / Instructor

WELDING FABRICATION TEAM – POST-SECONDARY