Technical Academy Students Sweep Sheet Metal Competition

WINTERVILLE—Three students participating in the Pitt Community College-Pitt County Schools Technical Academy came home with medals last month, after putting their training to the test as part of the SkillsUSA North Carolina East Regional Rally in Goldsboro.

During the event, which took place Feb. 28 at Wayne Community College, Zachary Huggins, Mason Jackson and Blake Ross swept the sheet metal competition, which required them to make calculations for accurate bends and angles for fitment requirements. Huggins took top honors, Jackson was second and Ross third.

“The HVAC team performed like experts in their field, and we are proud to have them representing the Construction and Industrial Technology (CIT) Division at Pitt Community College, our HVAC program and the HVAC industry,” said PCC CIT Dean Steven Mathews. “These are exceptional high school students who have grown as professionals, and they are on their way to a prosperous career, thanks to the dedication of PCC HVAC instructors, our SkillsUSA administrators and the PCC-PCS Technical Academy.”

Ross and Jackson, who are from South Central High School, and Huggins, an Ayden-Grifton High School student, are all seniors in their second year with the Technical Academy. The program offers Pitt County high school students an opportunity to earn college credits and high-demand workforce credentials in programs not offered at their respective high schools.

Several hundred students from across eastern North Carolina participated in last month’s SkillsUSA Rally, competing against one another in everything from welding and automotive repair to robotics and crime scene analysis.

SkillsUSA, formerly known as Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA), is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. A nonprofit organization, it serves nearly 400,000 members preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health fields.

03/20/2020