Ridgewater College Automotive Technology Student Went to SkillsUSA National Competition – West Central Tribune
WILLMAR – Ridgewater College is sending one of its automotive technology students to Atlanta, Georgia, this June to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition after winning gold at the state level.
Contributed / Ridgewater College
According to a news release, second-year automotive technology student Karina Rice of Willmar placed first in the automotive technology event at the annual Minnesota SkillsUSA competition held April 12 and 13 at St. The Challenge included 13 students competing in 13 automotive shops.
His classmate Samuel Timmer of Prinsburg brought home silver as a first-year college student.
“Karina is graduating this semester and has been working hard to take advantage of every opportunity to learn about the automotive systems covered at Ridgewater,” Jonathan Friton, Ridgewater automotive technology instructor, said in the release.
“This job as an automotive technician is definitely my calling,” Rice said in the press release. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of my amazing instructors.”
Contributed / Ridgewater College
Ridgewater College students from four technical colleges returned home with five champions and five runners-up, including first place for the high school fabrication team comprised of Gibson Kirkvliet of Lester Prairie; Jake Hiles of Winthrop; and Cole Lindberg of Kimball.
In the college manufacturing division, teammates Dominic Garcia of Hutchinson, Gage Dyre of Hutchinson and Kellan Stevens Aldrich of Buffalo took home second place.
Additional placements are as follows:
- Automotive Body Collision Repair – Repainting: Kensington’s Cody Nadgwick, second; Gibbon’s Cody Sievert, third
- Automotive Collision Repair – Collision: Justin Jaeger, Hutchinson, third
- Welding – Individual University Welders: Cody Simon, Norwood, fourth; Lexi Karnes, Buffalo, seventh; Joe Roepke of Arlington, 13th
- Welding – Individual High School Welders (PSEO): Kaden Otto of Lester Prairie, fourth; Brody Nathe, of Annandale, sixth; Aloysha Frick, of Brownton, seventh
- Agricultural Equipment Mechanic – Diesel Equipment: Nic Walstrom, from Belgrade, 35th; Connor Danielson of Atwater, 45th.
