Who has what it takes? 550 high school students participate in SkillsUSA

BANGOR – Lenna Ewing and Chelsea Trott, both seniors at Mattanawcook Academy, discovered late Thursday night that their hotel iron did not work – and it was after curfew.

Thanks to some quick thinking and kind hotel neighbors, the two young women showed up early Friday morning to the statewide SkillsUSA competition in Bangor with blue, freshly pressed hospital scrubs. Friday’s state event was a first for both young women, who participated in health care competitions.

“I’m sure [the ironing] helped our overall appearance,” said Trott, 18, of Lincoln. “It makes you feel better too, more professional.”

More than 550 high school students from around the state were in Bangor on Friday participating in 70 different areas of competition. The events, held at the United Technologies Center, Eastern Maine Community College and Penobscot Job Corps Center, tested students in vocations from culinary arts to carpentry. Once every event was completed and scored, judges tabulated the results and held an awards ceremony Friday night at the Bangor Auditorium. The state winner for each contest will be invited to the national competition this summer. A list of winners will be published in the Bangor Daily News next week.

“It’s like the Olympics of technology,” said Merle Adams, the dean of students at UTC.

Don and Pat Foote drove from Biddeford early Friday morning to watch their grandson, Zachary Foote, participate in the carpentry competition. Pat Foote snapped photos of her grandson’s progress, while her husband reflected on the construction projects the two shared together.

“When he was a lot younger, I went to his house and spent the weekend there building a playhouse, and he was out there carrying the supplies and helping,” Don Foote said. “And now here he is competing.”

The Erskine Academy senior plans to attend Central Maine Community College for building trades, Pat Foote said.

The proud grandparents were astute spectators as Zachary constructed the small building resembling a miniature shed, and after an hour Pat Foote said she had discovered her grandson’s strategy.

“He does a lot of cutting and work before actually putting it together,” she said. “He appears to be a little behind some of them, but I don’t think he really is.”

Next door at the plumbing competition, Lynette Berger watched as her son, Alex, tried to beat his second-place finish from last year. The Cony High School senior, and student at the Capitol Area Technical Center, spent Friday morning installing a toilet and sink drainage, and hot and cold water lines.

While her son was a little nervous before the competition, she said it was a great learning experience.

“This is great since we’re trying to keep kids in Maine working in Maine,” Berger said.

trobbins@bangordailynews.net

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