Vo-Tech students showcase skills

Perfecting recipes for citrus shrimp salads and troubleshooting faulty air conditioners were just two of the tasks Southern Nevada Vocational Technical Center students mastered in April to take home a state championship at the Nevada State SkillsUSA competition.

On April 28-30, about 100 SNVTC students competed against more than 30 Nevada schools in Reno as part of the Nevada State SkillsUSA competition, geared toward promoting skill development and leadership in career and technical education. The southeastern Las Vegas school claimed first place, with 39 students winning gold, silver and bronze medals in 13 different categories, including culinary arts, cosmetology and HV/air conditioning and refrigeration.

On May 12, SNVTC recognized the winning students at a special school-wide assembly. Principal Richard Arguello described the competitors as focused and talented.

"Our students are from all over town," he said. "You see these kids get up at 5, 5:30 in the morning to get on the bus. I marvel at their self discipline and dedication, so we do all we can to help them."

SkillsUSA serves more than 264,000 high school and college students and professional members in training programs for technical and service occupations. In addition to the state events, the organization sponsors an annual national competition, which hosts more than 4,100 student competitors.

From SNVTC, 13 gold medalists will advance to the June national-level SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo.

Arguello, who will attend the national competition, said prior to this year's accomplishment, SNVTC hasn't won a state championship in about five years.

SNVTC senior and culinary arts major Mariela Quezada, 17, tried to win the title for her school last year.

"It was fun, but I wasn't as prepared," she said.

This year the aspiring chef fixed her mistakes and won a gold medal in culinary arts and a place in the national competition. Quezada's task was to create two complete menus in four hours.

In order to make the best gazpacho and pork medallion with peppercorn sauce, Quezada said she kept her focus, ignoring every distraction in the room. Now she juggles studying for the eight-hour national competition, while preparing for graduation and her upcoming fall plans.

Quezada will attend Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Las Vegas, in August.

"I'd like to own my own restaurant," she said. "And Vegas seems like a good place to get started."

SNVTC senior Michael Kelly, 18, won gold in the HV/air conditioning and refrigeration portion of the competition. He was faced with a written and practical test that involved studying a malfunctioning air conditioner and determining the problem.

Kelly, who hopes to be an engineer, currently holds a full-time internship at a local refrigeration company. He works as a service technician and already has been asked to come on board as an employee after he graduates.

He said his job and his plans to attend the Community College of Southern Nevada help him study for nationals.

"My job gives me a heads up since the national competition will get more in depth," he said. "I'll just have to be exact, exact."

To prepare for nationals, Kelly is borrowing a motto a friend used during the state contest.

"My friend said just trying his best would be his gold medal."


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