CPI students place at state SkillsUSA competition

The SkillsUSA Pennsylvania State Conference was April 18-20 in Hershey, and 24 students represented Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. Those who place first in their respective disciplines have the chance to also represent CPI at the national conference June 25-30 in Louisville, Kentucky.

At April’s state event, students placed in five categories:
-Welding Sculpture: First place
-Automotive Computer Estimating and Total Loss Evaluation: Second place
-Dental Assisting: Second place
-Welding: Third place
-Automated Manufacturing Technology: Third place

SkillsUSA is a leadership and professional development program for students in career technical education programs. To be eligible for states, students must have placed first in the district competition that was held in Huntingdon. If student place first at states, they’re then eligible to compete at nationals. “A majority of our kids usually place at states – first, second or third – and (we) send one to four kids (annually) to nationals,” adviser Mark Keller said. “That’s something I’m really happy about. Our kids hold their own; no doubt about it, and that says a lot about their instructors who prep these kids.” Co-adviser Mindi Tobias, Dental Assisting program instructor, said the competition is generally based on written and hands-on components. Each student participates in different skills based on his or her field of study. Each year, more than half the CPI student body is involved in the program.