One Thomas County Central High School student walked away from his SkillsUSA experience with national recognition.
Jonathan Mills, now a senior, earned ninth place out of the entire country in his division, Marine Service Technology. National competition was held this summer in Louisville, Ky.
“It felt awesome, and I hope I’m able to compete at that level this year,” Mills said.
TCCHS teacher Michael Clapper, Mills’ ?automotive instructor, is proud of Jonathan’s competition accomplishments and was glad to help him tap into his “hidden potential.”
“His discipline and desire to learn about boats helped him stand out from the rest,” Clapper said.
In the division, students must be able to diagnose problems and label parts on the boat and engine itself. Mills prepared for competition by perusing dealer books and practiced rebuilding an engine.
Clapper said he offered encouragement to help boost Mills’ “self-confidence to compete” since this was a new avenue for him.
“I tried to encourage him to use all his available resources to prepare for something neither of us had attended,” Clapper said.
The actual competition was an 80-question written test and a hands on portion, making it a 6-7 hour test.
“I love working hands on and fixing problems, so it compels me to be able to fix the engines and see them running right,” Mills said.
While demand for marine technology is not big in this area, there is a lot of it along the coast and other regions, Clapper said.
“This is opening a door for young mechanics to enter into the career field,” he said.
Mills has encouraging words for anyone interested in doing competitions like SkillsUSA.
“I learned that you can do anything if you try your best at it and to never give up if you fail the first time,” Mills said. “Try your best and never let anyone tell you that you can't do it.”
Clapper has some advice, too.
“SkillsUSA is a great CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) that offers students the opportunity to compete in various areas,” he said. “In my opinion, it helps teach students the importance of hard work and how to be successful in life after high school.”