Fourteen students from Forsyth Tech won awards, including five gold medals, during the SkillsUSA competition in Louisville, Ky., June 25-29, 2018 during the 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a showcase of career and technical education students. Since the SkillsUSA state competition in Greensboro in April, students have been diligently preparing for the national competition and their efforts paid off.
Students in the Broadcasting and Production Technology Program:
Kayla Montalvo and Jason Mitchell received gold medal awards for Audio/Radio Production and Aaron Gabriel received a gold medal award for Extemporaneous Speech; Jon Keller and Trevor Tufano received bronze medal awards for TV/Video Production; Rodney Funderburk received 4th place for Prepared Speech and Annie Fuller, Matthew Owens, John Kerr and Rachel Torres received 5th place for Broadcast News.
Students in the Digital Effects and Animation Technology Program:
Chyan Wolfe and Asa Gordon received gold medal awards for Interactive Game Design; Nolan Baker and Levi Slayton received 7th place for 3D Animation.
“The Forsyth Tech students who participate each year at Skills USA national competition not only demonstrate the highest level of competency in their skill area, but they also exhibit great confidence and perseverance during an intense week of competition.” said Amy Davis-Moore, program coordinator, Broadcasting and Production Technology. “As instructors and advisors, we are extremely proud of their dedication and success.”
The SkillsUSA National Conference is one of a number of different industry-related competitions in which Forsyth Tech students can participate. This event serves as an annual showcase for the best Skills USA students across the nation who are interested in pursuing careers in trade, technical and skill service occupations.
Each year, contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels, with only state winners advancing to the national competition. At this year’s National Conference in Louisville, more than 6,000 state contest winners competed in 100 categories, working against the clock and contestants from other schools to demonstrate their expertise.
“The success of Forsyth Tech students at the national level in broadcast production, as well as digital effects and animation attests to the excellence of college programs in technology-rich career fields,” Forsyth Tech President Gary Green said.
Forsyth Tech students and staff members in the Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Row 1 (L to R) – Jon Keller, Kayla Montalvo, Rachel Torres, Trevor Tufano, Chyan Wolfe
Row 2 (L to R) – Jason Mitchell, Levi Slayton, Amy Davis-Moore, (faculty) Asa Gordon
Row 3 (L to R) – Nolan Baker, Annie Fuller, Matthew Owens, John Kelly, (faculty)
Row 4 (L to R) – Aaron Gabriel, Robert Smith (faculty), John Kerr, Rodney Funderburk.
