A new graduate of Grafton Large School is a national winner right after successful an automotive upkeep competitiveness in Atlanta this summer months.
Owen Pryga took house the SkillsUSA Automotive Servicing and Gentle Restore gold medal in June, according to a information release from Nic Fullington, Pryga’s technological education and learning instructor at Grafton Significant College.
Pryga received more than $8,000 really worth of Snap-On equipment and a $1,000 scholarship from Harbor Freight Instruments from SkillsUSA for successful the competitiveness.
“When I observed out I won it, it was also rather outrageous. I was hoping for top rated a few, to at the very least get a medal, go on phase. It blew me absent that I received first location,” Pryga said in a telephone interview.
Pryga was a single of 20 college students from throughout the state who labored on various duties about six hrs in the competitiveness that tested students’ abilities in basic safety, brakes, electrical and electronics, suspension, steering, alignment, significant motor restore, engine overall performance and transmissions, in accordance to the news launch.
“The full issue was incredibly nicely established up. I truly cherished just going to Atlanta, heading to a distinct condition, shifting elsewhere, seeing all the people today from all throughout the United States,” Pryga explained.
To qualify for the countrywide celebration, Pryga won the SkillsUSA state level of competition in April, competing against 25 other Wisconsin rivals.
Grafton Large School pupils have skilled for the national competition 14 times in the past 27 yrs. Pryga became the school’s 3rd nationwide champion. Grafton pupils formerly gained the competition in 2003 and 2006.
“It really is a good feeling to know that we’re doing anything appropriate, and to get him to a nationwide earn is remarkable. Super proud of him for undertaking that,” Fullington stated in a cellphone interview.
About the opposition
SkillsUSA is a nonprofit countrywide education and learning affiliation serving middle college, superior college and higher education/postsecondary students “planning for professions in trade, specialized and qualified provider occupations.”
Just about every 12 months, the firm hosts nationwide competitions for learners in a selection of ability locations, such as automotive. Inside the automotive group there are three competitions: automotive servicing and mild repair service, which is the level of competition Pryga competed in, automotive refinishing know-how and automotive services engineering.
Contestants at the countrywide levels of competition are judged on basic safety, quality, means to observe guidance and methods, accuracy (in comparison with manufacturing unit requirements), workmanship and other competencies.
Pupils are assigned eight to 15 stations and have to work under time limitations. Points assigned are decided by a technical committee and are based mostly on the problem of an assigned undertaking.
Pryga’s planning, potential designs
To aid Pryga prepare for the level of competition, Fullington enlisted the support of Mark Didier, who operates with the community operates office in the village of Grafton, as well as Scott Bohn, who operates at the Russ Darrow Honda dealership in Milwaukee, and Roman Weninger and Randy Strupp, who perform at the Five Corners Dodge dealership in Cedarburg. Others in the local community also furnished support.
“It’s handy when you have a community that’s eager to assist you get ready a kid like that for the reason that we can only train them so substantially in a college, and we really don’t have all the latest updates and equipment like the market does have,” Fullington mentioned.
Pryga mentioned he is was grateful for the assist he is been given from his teachers and his relatives.
This fall, Pryga designs to pursue a degree in data technologies at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Pryga reported he is learned about how to function underneath pressure through his automotive classes and the competitions, which he states will put together him for the potential.
“Particularly in IT if you are doing the job at a huge producing location and a thing goes completely wrong, you have to get that up and likely and on-line fast. You definitely have to get the job done effectively below tension, which is a huge thing I realized,” Pryga claimed.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or [email protected]. Stick to him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.