The Oshkosh West Index - Schaetz earns third place in national skills competition

Volume 106, Issue 1

Online Features

Schaetz earns third place in national skills competition

By Leah Dittberner
posted September 26, 2009

To many students, the realm of the B-Wing is a mysterious world of sawdust and power tools. Those who take classes in the industrial technological field are aware of the fact that a shop class is more complicated than this. Their work is most times a direct application of the advanced mathematics learned by students around the building. A prime example of this practical manifestation of knowledge is West graduate Andrew Schaetz's success at SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference this summer.

"SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is a national organization that provides a network and medium for students to demonstrate knowledge, leadership, and technical abilities in a skill that they want to pursue after high school," said Industrial Technology teacher Mark Boushele.

SkillsUSA has a wide variety of competitions for students to practice the skills they have a passion for and plan to pursue after high school. They also strive to promote excellence in every component of the American work force.

"This includes up to 75 competitions for nursing, nursing assistants, computer technicians, graphic arts, and printing," said Boushele.

Before students could compete at the national level, they had to dominate at the state competition.

"We had around 14 students go down to the state competition in Madison this past April," said Industrial Technology teacher Andy Brown.

The rigor of the state competition and the tough qualification requirements made the chance of attending nationals very unlikely.

"You have to place first in your division to go to nationals," said Brown. "Schaetz placed first in his technical competition which was sheet metal design and fabrication."

After placing first at state, Schaetz attended the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City from June 22-26.

"He competed in his day long competition and placed third in the country," said Brown.

This astonishing level of success is credited to Schaetz's thorough understanding of a hands-on approach to the mathematical skills learned in the classroom.

"For the competition, you are given some plans to create a product with very limited resources and you have to lay out and calculate how you are going to use all of the materials." said Boushele. "It is a very advanced level of applied mathematics."

The intricate relationship between math and creating products is of the upmost importance to the Industrial Technology staff. This valuable connection was exemplified to the fullest during the competition this summer.

"It is important to recognize that the competition includes not only trade specific skills, but a real in-depth knowledge and awareness of laws, products, materials, and applied mathematics," said Boushele.

Schaetz's award for placing third at nationals included impressive prizes donated by many well-known sponsors.

"As a result of winning third place he won several thousands of dollars in tools, equipment, and clothing," said Boushele. "Some of the sponsors of the competition were Dewalt tools, Irwin tools, and Carhartt clothing."

This impressive accomplishment relied heavily on Schaetz's work ethic and passion for the skills he studied.

"This success is a direct result of Schaetz's very advanced level of knowledge of materials and tools, and his personal desire to be one of the best," said Boushele.

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photo courtesy of Andy Brown

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