Sparta. Local career and technical education students won one of the nation’s highest awards at the 2021 SkillsUSA Championships, held virtually from June 14 to 24.
Team A, consisting of Andreas Ursin and Louis Ruggiero from Sussex County Tech School in Sparta, was awarded the High School Bronze medal in Mechatronics.
Noah Jacobson of Sparta, a student at Sussex County Tech School, was awarded the high school gold medal in Technical Computer Applications.
More than 3,700 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education. The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skills competition in the world.
Students demonstrated their technical, workplace, and personal skills in 107 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.
Industry leaders from 650 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers. Industry support of the in-person SkillsUSA Championships is valued at over $36 million in donated time, equipment, cash, and material.
The championships are held annually for students in middle school, high school, or college/postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.