Local students win big at SkillsUSA competition

Twenty-eight students from Odessa High, Permian High and the Advanced Technical Center recently competed and brought home 31 total awards from the SkillsUSA State Competition in Corpus Christi.

Among the winners:
>> Zach Chavez, Permian, first place welding technology-individual welding skills, qualified for Nationals.
>> Dani Franco, OHS, first-place welding technology- technical information.
>> Miguel Holguin, Permian, first place automotive technology.
>> Brittany Pardue, OHS, first place automotive technology.
>> Russell Carger, ATC, first place automotive technology.
>> Robert Pando, OHS, first place auto body technology.
>> Kendahl Lee, Permian, first place auto body technology.
>> Matt McGill, Permian, first place auto body technology.

Ector County Independent School District students also earned awards in cabinet making, advertising design and broadcast journalism.

Permian senior Zach Chavez with his first-place trophy for individual welding skills. With his win, Zach qualified for the SkillsUSA national competition in Kansas City in June. He also earned a full scholarship (worth more than $12,000) from the Tulsa Welding School, which offers a seven-month masters welding program. Zach, who is already been accepted into the welding program at Odessa College, set a goal of winning this competition as a sophomore.