Source: Evan Beckman, 785-826-2978, ebeckman@k-state.edu
News Release prepared by: Natalie Blair, 785-826-2642, nblair@k-state.edu

Friday, May 6, 2011

K-STATE SALINA STUDENTS SWEEP STATE SKILLSUSA COMPETITION, HEADED TO NATIONALS

SALINA -- Allan Richardson, senior in aviation maintenance, Adams, Neb., will attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Championship Conference in Kansas City, Mo., June 23-27, after placing first at the state competition.

This will be Richardson's second consecutive year to compete at the national level, and K-State Salina's fourth consecutive year to have a representative at the national championship. Only the top-placing competitor at the state level moves on to compete nationally.

K-State Salina swept the state competition. Jonathan Thompson, junior in professional pilot and aviation maintenance, Clay Center, finished second, and Van Hockersmith, senior in aviation maintenance and engineering technology, Manhattan, earned third place.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. With 13,000 school chapters, SkillsUSA serves more than 280,000 students and instructors annually.