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Students win big in national competition
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Seven Georgia Piedmont Technical College students spent last week in Kansas City, Mo., at the National Leadership and Skills Conference. Jayson Holland competed in the Motorcycle Service Technology category, accompanied by academic adviser Mike Sachs. Jacquelyn Williams, Precious Bright and Cotina Howard competed in Tech Prep Showcase-Business, Management and Technology, accompanied by their adviser Chrisine Hardin Hamilton. This group won the gold medal in their category over competitors from Manatee Technical Institute in Bradenton, Fla., and Rolla Technical Institute in Rolla, Mo. Humberto Fragoso, Rodney Williams and Shana Baker won gold in the Tech Prep Showcase - Industrial and Engineering Technology category and were accompanied by Dr. Natoshia Anderson. They beat competition from PTEC Saint Petersburg Campus in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Manatee Technical Institute in Bradenton.

"We are very proud of our students who have worked hard, not only in the classroom and on the state level, but now in national competition. Their hard work, determination and dedication have paid off and puts Georgia Piedmont Technical College on the national map once again," said Larry Teems, acting President of GPTC (formerly DeKalb Technical College).

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. "Carpenters are framing walls, plumbers are installing pipes, masons are building chimneys, chefs are bakers and mechanics are diligently diagnosing and repairing. There are people cutting hair, people cutting metal, mock hospital rooms and crime scenes, as well as traffic stops and construction equipment.

Robots are being built, and then put to work, and of course, cars and motorcycles are being diagnosed and repaired," said Sachs.