Students test firefighting, other vocational skills in Addison
Ryan Thomas thought he had it all figured out Friday.
A high school student who studies fire science, he was sure he knew how to gauge a special skills challenge at Technology Center of DuPage, a vocational school in Addison. Ryan said he presumed the most difficult task would be the simulated chopping through a wooden door during a fire.
Instead, he was overwhelmed by a dummy.
“The dummy drag was the hardest part,” he said, catching his breath after dragging a 200-pound mannequin meant to simulate a fire victim.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a firefighter,” said Ryan, who attends Wheaton North High School and the technology center. “I like helping people. The adrenaline rush is crazy.”
Students in all fields may have felt the adrenaline Friday during the SkillsUSA Region 1 competition, which drew about 230 students from seven vocational schools in northern Illinois. They competed in 27 challenges related to their studies, such as fire science, auto collision and cosmetology.
Tests included written exams and timed skills tests judged by industry professionals and instructors from other schools. That meant culinary students had to beat the clock while chopping food, cooking it and creating an appetizing presentation, all while judges hovered, taking notes. Cosmetology students were challenged to make a manicure appear perfect in a certain amount of time.
The host, Technology Center of DuPage, has about 65 of its approximate 1,100 students in the SkillsUSA program. Technology center spokeswoman Kathy Rosenwinkle said the contest is more of a practice round, as students who want to compete at the SkillsUSA state challenge in Springfield will have a chance to qualify this winter. Those who place first there will be invited to the national contest in June in Kansas City, Mo.
Friday’s event “allows them to get used to competing and face the judges.”
Ian Ambrosio, a technology center student from Wheaton Warrenville South High School, said the contest is just part of the practice he needs for his goal of becoming an emergency medical technician after he gets out of high school.
Ian said he also hopes to ride along with area fire departments to see what work is like in the real world. But Rosenwinkle said Friday#146;s contest is a good start in taking skills outside the classroom.#147;It allows them to test skills they#146;ve already acquired against students from other schools,#148; she said. #147;It#146;s just a like a sport: you know how you are in practice, and going up against other teams is just different.#148;
Technology Center of DuPage SkillsUSA Region 1 wins
First place
Ÿ Culinary arts and commercial baking.
Ÿ Carpentry
Ÿ First-aid and CPR
Ÿ HVAC
Ÿ Power equipment technology
Second place
Ÿ Culinary arts and commercial baking
Ÿ Cosmetology
Ÿ Collision repair
Ÿ C++ programming
Third place
Ÿ Culinary arts and commercial baking
Ÿ Carpentry