Off to Nationals
Four Okanagan College students have punched their tickets to Winnipeg to compete in the Skills Canada National Competition next month, after gold-medalwinning performances at the provincial competition in Abbotsford last week.
The four gold medalists were joined on the podium by eight more local students who earned four silver and four bronze medals, in categories spanning a host of trades and technology disciplines, from aerospace technology to refrigeration.
Okanagan College was the best in the province in the areas of automotive collision repair, automotive service, carpentry and information technology.
Andreas Roth, a level-three apprentice, won gold in automotive collision repair – a category swept by the college.
Roth was joined on the podium by Caleb Loewen, who brought home the silver medal, and Marcel Kaemmerzell, who earned bronze.
“As a first time competitor, I did everything I could to prepare ahead of time, but it was definitely a new and unique experience for me,” said Roth.
“I’m really excited for nationals. I am going to practice hard and try my best for another good result in Winnipeg.”
Roth and his fellow collision repair competitors were evaluated on their skills across a variety of tasks, including welding, plastic and metal repair, and damage analysis over the six-and-a-halfhour competition.
Collision repair instructor Danny Marques said while preparation plays a big role in students’ success, it is their ability to perform under pressure that is the determining factor on competition day.
“We couldn’t be prouder of these three students and all the students who represented Okanagan College and themselves so well at the competition,” said Marques.
“As coaches, we obviously try to mentor the students as much as we can, but ultimately they are the ones competing and it’s their ability and motivation that sets them apart.”
Brendan Battersby, a secondyear student in the college’s network and telecommunications engineering technology program won gold in information technology.
Kurt Breton, a level-four apprentice earned gold in automotive service, while Lukas Pfob, also a level-four apprentice, took the top spot in carpentry.
Overall, Okanagan College students captured a dozen medals at the 10-school competition, which was held April 5 at The Fraser Valley Trade & Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford.
Gold medallists earn a berth to the National Skills Canada competition, May 31-June 3 in Winnipeg.
The national competition attracts more than 500 qualifying students who compete in 40 contest areas.
The program was launched in 1994, and is the only national multi-trade and technology competition for young students and apprentices in the country.
– Contributed by Okanagan College