SPVS students garner medal in national skills competition

Five students from the Southern Penobscot Vocational School in Bangor recently attended a national vocational skills competition involving more than 6,000 students and instructors.

The SPVS students went to the national level after garnering the top honor in their fields at the state competition held in late March. The national competition sponsored by the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America was held in Tulsa, Okla., June 26-29.

Statewide, Maine students did well considering the competition from states which have participated nationally for a decade or more, said the state’s VICA director Tim Hathorne. This year’s competition marked the first time that Maine has received a silver medal in the three years that it has participated in the national competition.

Locally, of the five area participants, three are from Old Town, one is from Hampden Academy, and one is from Hermon High School. All but one of the participants were graduating seniors.

Kevin LeClair of Old Town High School placed 19th in the field of diesel repairs. LeClair also received a $6,800 scholarship to Ohio Diesel for his first place in the state competition.

Janine Pickard, now a Hermon High School senior, placed 23rd in the blueprint drawing competition. Billy Miles, also of Old Town, ranked 25th in the extemporaneous speaking category, and Mike Wellman from Hampden Academy placed 27th in the plumbing and heating competition. Jodie Hesseltine from Old Town participated in the sheet metal competition.

Hathorne said that Maine students competed in about 30 of the 52 vocational areas. Between 45 and 50 students from across the country participated in each of the areas, he said.

“The kids should be proud of what they have done,” said Alan Dickey, SPVS assistant director. In state competitions, SPVS students usually place first or second in the competitions they enter, he said. On the national level Dickey said that the school’s students usually place in the middle of the pack.