Recent WTA Electrical Wiring graduate Dan Shaw scored in the top five at the national SkillsUSA competition last week. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – Westfield Technical Academy SkillsUSA advisor Maureen Baillargeon talked about the National SkillsUSA conference in Louisville, Kentucky, where she accompanied recent Electrical Wiring graduate Daniel Shaw on June 25 to 29, to compete in Industrial Motor Control, after winning gold in the state competition. Baillargeon reported that Daniel Shaw received fifth place in his competition at nationals. Also on the trip was Shaw’s father, John Shaw.
Baillargeon ran down the week of competition, beginning with opening ceremonies on Tuesday with guest speaker Brad Keselowski of Nascar. “He was very inspiring and motivational to start the over 100 competitions,” she said.
Wednesday and Thursday, Shaw competed from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. On Wednesday, he had four stations including a trouble shooting area, logic diagram, conduit-bending and an interview. After lunch was a 100 question test that had a four hour time limit.
Thursday was a hands-on project in which each contestant was given a diagram, and had to configure and install an alternating air compressor. The contestants had from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to complete their project and several did not finish, Baillargeon said. Ideal Industries Inc., gave a presentation to the contestants while their projects were judged and scores tallied. Then each contestant assisted in the break down and clean-up of the stations.
For his efforts, Shaw received a Klein Tool bag, and a Milwaukee tool holder with a Milwaukee tape measure. He also received a DeWalt pivoting head flashlight, a level with a rotating vial, and a drill bit set. Southwire also gave him some “no cut” gloves to work in and a non-contact voltage tester, Baillargeon said.
Dan Shaw, Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” and SkillsUSA advisor Maureen Baillargeon at nationals. (Photo submitted)
On Friday, Shaw and Baillargeon attended the mikeroweWORKS foundation travel scholarship reception, which included a photo opportunity with Mike Rowe (of TV’s “Dirty Jobs”) and a talk which highlighted Rowe’s 12 ideas in his S.W.E.A.T. (Skill & Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo) pledge, before attending the closing ceremonies.
“It was a bit nerve-racking hearing the top three names called and not hearing your name. We left the ceremony a bit defeated as did many individuals, but with our state’s pizza party that evening from 8:30 to 11 p.m. we were able to find out the top ten place finishers in each contest. They started from 10th place and called up competitors from several contests. Dan, his father John Shaw and I were all very proud to learn that he had placed fifth in the nation,” Baillargeon said.
This is the third trip to nationals in a row for the Electrical Wiring shop, and bragging rights for teachers Gary Martineau and Chris Benda, who teaches Industrial Motor Control to juniors. The Electrical Wiring shop also learned on June 21 that they received a $108,000 Skills Capital grant to purchase equipment to support the career-technical program at the school.
