For media information, contact:
Dana Urrutia, 678-495-3638
durrutia@gwinnetttech.edu

April 30, 2009

Gwinnett Tech Students Take Top Honors at SkillsUSA State Championships

Six gold medalists will continue on to national competition

Gwinnett Technical College students earned medals in nine different competition categories at the SkillsUSA State Championships, taking home six gold medals and 11 medals overall.

The 2009 Georgia SkillsUSA Championships showcase the skills of Georgia's postsecondary students through hands-on competitions in leadership, health occupations, trades/industry and technical contests. SkillsUSA is a nonprofit organization that serves teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.

In addition to Gwinnett Tech's six gold medalists, GTC students also won three silver medals and two bronze medals. Winners include:

• Diedrich Smay: Gold Medal in Architectural Drafting
• Parnell Roberts: Gold Medal in Cabinetmaking
• Ben Johnson: Gold Medal in Carpentry
• Justin Beck: Silver Medal in Carpentry
• Jonathan Mashburn: Gold Medal in CNC Milling
• Rob Patterson: Bronze medal in Precision Machining
• Damian Aching: Gold Medal in Photography
• Ryan Tyrl: Bronze Medal in Photography
• Kelli Hefton: Gold Medal in Preschool Teaching Assistant
• Christopher Krekemeyer: Silver Medal in Welding
• Paul Martini, Erin McKee and Samuel Watson: Silver Team Medal in Welding Fabrication

Also representing Gwinnett Tech were Richard George in Automotive Service, Jorge Gonzalez in HVAC, Amanda Abercrombie in Photography, and Kaitlin Thomas in Early Childcare.

The six students who won gold medals qualified to advance to the National SkillsUSA Championships, to be held June 21-26 in Kansas City, Mo.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to develop a strong workforce for America.

Gwinnett Tech offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate program options that can be completed in two years or less. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

Get the latest news about Gwinnett Tech: http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/news

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.