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SHS students showcase tech skills

Thirteen Superior High School students will bus their problem-solving skills to Madison next week for the SkillsUSA Wisconsin competition. Wednesday, they tweaked designs, practiced skills and performed test runs in Room B12. Freshman David Fultz...

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Jed Carlson/jcarlson@superiortelegram.com Superior High School junior Samin Abdullah demonstrates how the robot he helped design and build functions Wednesday at the school. Designed for urban search and rescue, the robot will be put through its paces during state SkillsUSA competition next week. In all, 13 SHS students will compete in areas ranging from 3D printing and photography to precision machining technology.

Thirteen Superior High School students will bus their problem-solving skills to Madison next week for the SkillsUSA Wisconsin competition.

Wednesday, they tweaked designs, practiced skills and performed test runs in Room B12.

Freshman David Fultz toyed with his 3D printing prototype. The miniature birdhouse, and the chain it hung from, were created in one piece using computer modeling, creativity and a 3D printer.

Fultz scattered seven different support prototypes beside the keychain-sized birdhouse, designed to suspend it from a branch. His final design, printed by a professional company, will be judged on its functionality and how well it showcases the capability of a 3D printer.

Samin Abdullah, a junior, plugged in a robot a little bigger than a shoebox. Guided by students, its task is to roll into a house, grab live bombs and dispose of them safely outside.

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"We totally designed and built this thing from scratch," Abdullah said.

Leaning on lessons learned at previous competitions, Abdullah and fellow junior Cal Berti have beefed up the power supply to the arm and added extra gears. They hope to place high in the urban search and rescue category.

Bailey Lynch will do his creating at the state competition next week. The senior is tasked with turning plans into objects using lathes, hand tools, a computer numerical controlled milling machine and software.

Lynch's precision machining competition takes half a day; other competitions last the length of a speech. Displays feature student woodworking, metalworking and cabinetry projects.

"Some people make some really amazing things," said Madison Glenn, a junior competing in photography.

Visitors would be surprised, said Brent Kindred, executive director of SkillsUSA Wisconsin.

"They would be in awe of what students are doing to prepare themselves for the future workforce," he said. "They're programming, assembling, troubleshooting. It's truly a reflection of what Wisconsin needs in the workforce."

For 45 years, students have gathered to match skills at the statewide competition. Superior High School is the only school to maintain a SkillsUSA chapter all 45 years.

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"The Superior chapter was at the first conference in 1974," Kindred said. "As far as I can tell, it's the only one that's been active all those years."

Lynch can take a little credit for that longevity. Only two students were involved in SkillsUSA his freshman year; Lynch was one of them.

What makes the competition important is how it impacts the students.

"We may be the only place where a student gets recognized for being a good welder," Kindred said, or for their skills in construction, sheet metal or electric work. "We are recognizing students for being good at what they do. I sincerely hope that will give students the confidence to continue their studies in those areas."

Not only are they recognized, said SHS SkillsUSA adviser Adam Kuhlman, they're exposed to all 80 of the different trades represented. This year's list includes model rocketry, culinary arts, criminal justice, additive manufacturing, digital cinema production and architectural drafting. What they see may set their course for future classes or careers.

Both Kindred and Kuhlman were SkillsUSA competitors in high school.

"It was one of the things that got me hooked in the area," Kuhlman said.

Lynch was prompted to join by former SHS adviser Paul Skarman.

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"He would talk to me a lot about the trades jobs," Lynch said, and the importance of skilled workers in those areas.

Judged by professionals in the trades, the competition highlights careers that are in high demand statewide.

"Part of what we want to do at SkillsUSA, we're trying to change the mindset and stereotype of some of these types of careers," Kindred said. "Some are unjustly given a persona. We're trying to show them these are noble jobs."

Glenn joined the club her freshman year to be with friends. Although she'd never taken any photography classes, advisers helped steer her on the right track to competition.

"It teaches you to be independent and learn," Glenn said, and gives students a taste of what it would be like working in that field.

The club, which meets during A lunch on Wednesdays, is open to all SHS students.

"You can literally take all core classes and join the club," Lynch said.

Kuhlman and fellow adviser Justin Aulie hope to grow the team.

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"For students, it's an opportunity to learn some leadership skills and build confidence in the skills they have," Aulie said. "For the school, it gets name recognition out there."

Students said that, despite occasional frustrations working out design kinks, it's rewarding.

"It's pretty fun," Abdullah said. "It's a nice group of people you get to meet."

Competition takes place Wednesday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Members of the public are welcome to attend. For information, visit www.skillsusa-wi.org .

Maria Lockwood covers news in Douglas County, Wisconsin, for the Superior Telegram.

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