Local students earn state awards

The recent SkillsUSA Florida state competition earned top spots for several Marion County students. The state organization is part of SkillsUSA, a nonprofit partnership of education and industry and helps students develop personal, workplace and technical skills.

“SkillsUSA Florida is proud of the accomplishments of all our student competitors and especially our medalists. With competitions held virtually for the first time this year, our contestants and their instructors overcame an extra layer of difficulty. The event was a true collaboration of students, teachers and business and industry partners, and we are excited for the level of skill and talent in Marion County and throughout the state of Florida,” said state director Jessica Graber.

The slate of local high school team winners includes:

First place, gold medal: Additive Manufacturing, Justin Connell and Isabelle Amparo, Belleview High School; Commercial sUAS Drone Technology, Jacob Brewer and Fraun Felter, Belleview High School; Culinary Arts, Cane Fernandez, Forest High School; Job Skill Demonstration, Ian Singlemann, Marion Technical Institute; Television (Video) Production, Castaneda Luis and Morgan Vanderlaan, West Port High School.

Second place, silver medal: Culinary Arts, Cody Blaire, Forest High School

Third place, bronze medal: Restaurant Service, Walter Hoffman, Forest High School; Job Interview, Jade Dunne, Marion Technical Institute; Welding, Miguel Sanchez, Marion Technical Institute

For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org or www.skillsusafl.org.