Elk Grove students named national champs in manufacturing competition

Three Elk Grove High School students won gold medals at the National SkillsUSA Championship, showcasing their advanced academic skills and the manufacturing knowledge they learned in and out of the classroom.

Peter Barts, Campbell Kraemer and Jonathan Faughn, all from Elk Grove Village, competed in the Automated Manufacturing Technology category June 22-24 in Louisville, Kentucky. The team learned they won first place during the competition's awards ceremony, which was live streamed to a national audience.

"We are extremely proud of these students who have shown our student body what it takes to be successful," said Elk Grove Associate Principal Kyle Burritt, who also oversees the school's Career and Technical Education Department. "They have put in 100 percent effort to get to this point through hard work and determination."

To qualify for nationals, the students began preparations in their engineering and manufacturing classes at Elk Grove. They then completed a written test as well as competed at the Illinois state competition, where they won first place.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for students in technical career programs. The national conference gives winners at the state level an opportunity to compete for a national title in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields.

This year, more than 6,000 career and technical education students took part in the national competition. It marks the first time Elk Grove High School has made it to nationals in this category.

The trip to Louisville was made possible by Elk Grove High School's manufacturing and engineering advisory board, a group of supporters who are industry professionals that provide equipment, funding and internships, as well as input on academic curriculum.