MAR LIN — Two students at the Schuylkill Technology Center won medals last month at the annual SkillsUSA Pennsylvania competitions at the Hershey Convention Center and one will represent the state in the national competition next month.
Founded in 1965, SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, according to the organization’s website at www.skillsusa.org.
The SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events held throughout the country showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Contests begin on the district level and the top winners continue on to states. The state winners then head to the national contests held June 20-24 in Louisville, Kentucky.
State and national winners are eligible for technology scholarships, according to the website.
Kevin Graff, a senior in the Shenandoah Valley School District, won a gold medal in the small engine repair event at the state competition held April 13 to 15 in Hershey. Graff, who had a bye in the district competition, will represent Pennsylvania in the national competition next month.
Graff said he has been interested in engine repair since he was about 7 years old.
“My father was a mechanic and I grew up around cars,” Graff said Thursday.
His interest in motor repair piqued when he started driving ATVs.
At the state competition, Graff said he was tasked with things like measuring and disassembling parts.
“I knew I had a good shot to win,” Graff said.
Once Graff completed the small engine repair program at STC earlier this year, he enrolled in a virtual school so he could continue his employment at Shreffler Equipment Inc., Pitman. He was employed through STC’s cooperative education program. Now he repairs everything from ATVs to tractors and lawnmowers
“I am able to fix just about everything,” Graff said. “It’s definitely nice to change things up.”
Randy Shreffler, co-owner of Shreffler Equipment, said the co-op program allows students to learn unique repairs they might not see in the classroom.
“There is nothing like learning in the real world,” he said.
Brandylynn Witmer, a junior at Blue Mountain High School, won third place in welding sculpture.
Her sculpture is that of a boot with a ball and chain.
“It represents being at war with yourself, another person or the environment around you,” Witmer said Thursday.
Witmer said she worked on the sculpture for about five months. She mostly used heat and a hammer.
Upon winning the district competition, Witmer said she was “ecstatic,” but nervous for the state competition.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
The other winning sculptures were that of a dreamcatcher and a human skull. She believed originality was why she was able to win.
Her interest in welding started while working at the garage next to her home. After seeing a help wanted sign in the window, Witmer said she started cleaning the garage and soon started working on cars.
“My boss at my previous job would always ask me if I knew how to weld, so I took up welding as a thing that interested me and it turns out I love it,” Witmer said.
She now works at Big Tom’s Garage in Schuylkill Haven. Although only a junior in high school, Witmer is already thinking about what she wants to do after graduation.
Witmer said the University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Ohio, has expressed interest in getting her to join their welding program.
“I didn’t want to do a trade or secondary school, but this opportunity came and I am seriously considering it,” Witmer said.
Witmer has already started planning her next sculpture, but only gave a small hint as to what it will be.
“You are your own lantern,” she said.