Students excel in annual skills competition

Sanders County students were honored last week for being among the best in the state for the SkillsUSA competition.

Mary Heller, director of SkillsUSA in Montana, traveled to Thompson Falls and Plains last week to present awards to students. She noted that the 2020 competition was canceled due to the pandemic, and this year the competition looked a little different. Students competed in the shops at their schools, monitored by their advisors.

In Thompson Falls, junior Tyler Battles won silver for power equipment technology. Battles said he had to take a written test and also put a small engine together piece by piece for the competition. He said he decided to compete in the small engine contest after taking Bill McQuire's automotive class at Thompson Falls High School this year. The hardest part, Battles said, was when he got the piston rings in the engine.

"It means a lot to me," Battles said of his silver medal. "It's an honor." McGuire said that Battles worked hard in the class and he's interested in the topics, helping him succeed.

Heller said that Battles was the only competitor in the category in the whole state this year, but that doesn't mean he didn't have to follow strict standards. "He did very well," she stated. "I'm glad to see you involved." Winners of gold medals in competitions, Heller said, have the chance to compete at the national level.

Battles, whose parents Mike and Nykolee were at the ceremony on Tuesday, said he might compete in the welding category next year.

In Plains, Heller handed out four awards to students at the high school gymnasium last Tuesday. Shop teacher Kyle Mitchell, described this year's competition as a unique experience as the competitions were held virtually and Heller had quite the job choosing the winners. "Plains High School took home quite a few medals this year," Heller said. Sophomore Gunnar Gannarelli won bronze for computer aided design drafting, junior Celsey Vonheeder won the Montana Outstanding Chapter Member award, junior Madison Elliot won bronze for prepared speech and senior Parker Flock won bronze for job interview.

Grades 7-12 were present to watch their fellow classmates receive the accolades. Afterward, teachers handed out end of the year awards to the entire student body. Students received various awards in categories such as art, music, science and math. Those with top GPA scores and perfect attendance were recognized as well. A little humor was added into the mix as several students were presented awards that didn't require a 4.0 GPA. Most disruptive, most colorful language and those students who put up with their teacher's humor received recognition and thanks from the faculty. The SkillsUSA winners put together an obstacle course at the end of the ceremony to bring students together one more time before they say goodbye to the graduating class.