LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Students from Lower Lake and Upper Lake High competed in the SkillsUSA California Region 1 Skills and Leadership Contest at Petaluma High School and Maria Carillo High School in February.

There were more than 115 contestants this year in Region 1 contests.

The contestants competed in 29 demo and 5 live contests from 6 different schools that extend for Petaluma to Ukiah.  

SkillsUSA is a competition for students to test their skills in Career Technical Education such as culinary, woodworking, technology and welding.

Students not only showcase their technical skills, but also compete to display their leadership ability.  The SkillsUSA competition is a unique competition that believes in preparing students for leadership in the world of work.

Lake County students won 15 gold and 11 silver medals at the regional competition.

The gold medal students will advance to the state competition in San Diego in April for a week long competition.

Winners include:

3-D Visualization and Animation: Cody Geil, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Chance Taylor, Lower Lake High School, Gold.

Automotive Service Technology: Derek Jones, Lower Lake High School, Gold.

Carpentry: Jose Montanez, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
    
Culinary Arts: Luisa Correa, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Robyn Bloom, Lower Lake High School, Silver.

Introductory Automotive Service Technology "B" (11-12): Cody Beers, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Charlie Clark, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Dustin Churchill, Lower Lake High School, Gold; Anthony DeMaria, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
    
Welding: Joseph Porter, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
    
Welding, MIG: Wyland Wacaser, Lower Lake High School, Gold.
    
Mobile Robotic Technology: Ivan Lopez, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Angel Hernandez, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Michael Herringshaw, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Branden Perry, Upper Lake High School, Gold; Jesus Martinez, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Trevor Warren, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Travis Floyd, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Cory Rodriguez, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Giovanni Bautista, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Larry Stacey, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Emmitt Quadrio, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Israel Mendoza, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Norman Valdez, Upper Lake High School, Silver; Jeff Tarpley, Upper Lake High School, Silver.

The creed of this competition is to believe in “the dignity of work, American way of life, education, fair play, satisfaction is achieved by good work, and high moral and spiritual standards.”

If you would like more information on the SkillsUSA program please visit www.skillsusaca.org .

The local programs are supported largely by fundraising and donations.

If you would like to help keep this program going at our local schools or would like to sponsor the gold medalist to represent Lake County in the state competition, please contact the Gary Madison at Upper Lake High, 707-275-2338 or Laura Hutchinson at Lower Lake High, 707-994-6471.