Faculty members from Penn College's School of Natural Resources Management recently co-chaired two-day SkillsUSA state competitions in Pennsylvania and New York. Bill P. Kilcoyne Jr. and Chris S. Weaver, instructors of diesel equipment technology, oversaw the Diesel Technology competition among 12 high school contestants at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. Mark E. Sones, another diesel instructor from the college's Schneebeli Earth Science Center, was a judge for that event. Weaver also co-chaired the Precision Equipment Operations category among 18 secondary competitors at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., assisted by faculty colleague Ryan W. Peck. "I enjoyed being involved with both thePennsylvania and New York State SkillsUSA competitions," Weaver said. "It was a great opportunity to interact with the secondary students and guide them toward postsecondary education, as well as the opportunities that exist in the heavy equipment industry. The judges, secured from industry, were very engaged with the competitors and impressed upon them the importance of gaining strong technical skills." Chairing the events included securing judges from industry, obtaining industry donations of equipment for the competition site, and planning the stations and tests both written and hands-on. Subjects included hydraulics, electrical troubleshooting, air conditioning and wheel-end adjustment. "It was a good event," Peck said. "The students we had the opportunity to work with were polite, well-mannered and worked hard at the competitive events."
Photos by Carol A. Lugg, coordinator of matriculation and retention, School of Natural Resources Management
Faculty members from Penn College's School of Natural Resources Management recently co-chaired two-day SkillsUSA state competitions in Pennsylvania and New York. Bill P. Kilcoyne Jr. and Chris S. Weaver, instructors of diesel equipment technology, oversaw the Diesel Technology competition among 12 high school contestants at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. Mark E. Sones, another diesel instructor from the college's Schneebeli Earth Science Center, was a judge for that event. Weaver also co-chaired the Precision Equipment Operations category among 18 secondary competitors at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., assisted by faculty colleague Ryan W. Peck. "I enjoyed being involved with both thePennsylvania and New York State SkillsUSA competitions," Weaver said. "It was a great opportunity to interact with the secondary students and guide them toward postsecondary education, as well as the opportunities that exist in the heavy equipment industry. The judges, secured from industry, were very engaged with the competitors and impressed upon them the importance of gaining strong technical skills." Chairing the events included securing judges from industry, obtaining industry donations of equipment for the competition site, and planning the stations and tests both written and hands-on. Subjects included hydraulics, electrical troubleshooting, air conditioning and wheel-end adjustment. "It was a good event," Peck said. "The students we had the opportunity to work with were polite, well-mannered and worked hard at the competitive events." Photos by Carol A. Lugg, coordinator of matriculation and retention, School of Natural Resources Management