Hill City seniors ignite potential at SkillsUSA

Two students represented Hill City for the first time ever at the State SkillsUSA competition at Mitchell Technical College April 11. This year’s theme was “Ignite Your Potential,” and that is exactly what the students did. 

Camron Arledge and Noah Schelske entered into the carpentry competition where they showcased their skills in blueprint reading, precision workmanship and safety while framing walls, cutting and installing rafters, fascia boards, soffits, sheathing and more within a three-hour time restriction. In other words, “Demonstrating skills that you should learn in a normal carpentry class,” said Arledge.

Schelske placed third out of 13 competitors at the state level. As a runner-up, he could potentially compete at the national level in Georgia this summer if either of the first or second place winners are not able to attend. 

The placing finishers received awards in the form of tools and equipment donated by businesses in the trade field. Schelske received a Milwaukee pack-out tool box and stiletto hammer. Local businesses Dean Kurtz Construction, Western States Fire Protection, Midwestern Mechanical, Kilowatt Electric, Fastenal and EPC Service Company sponsored the students’ entry fees for the competition. 

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce and to help students excel. The membership has grown to nearly 400 active members from high schools across the state as well as all four technical colleges.

SkillsUSA South Dakota’s mission is to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members through a structured program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical and professional skills training, according to the website. 

“SkillsUSA is supposed to teach you how to get a job and supposed to make you a good employee,” said Arledge. 

The South Dakota State Leadership Conference brings in hundreds of the state’s elite high school and college students to enhance their personal, workplace and technical skills while  being grounded in academics. Throughout the conference students can compete in around 50 different competitions ranging from technical skills to leadership skills. 

While both Arledge and Schelske have plans to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for mechanical engineering, Schelske said, “I bet we will use the skills later on in life.”

Travis Santistevan has been teaching shop classes for the last 13 years in South Dakota, Montana and his home state of Wyoming. This is his second year at Hill City High School.

“It’s very beneficial with everything he’s taught us,” said Schelske. 

Santistevan said Hill City will plan on continuing to compete at SkillsUSA in the future, hoping to compete in the welding and teamworks competitions as well as the carpentry.