Local teens win big at 40th annual SkillsUSA conference

Lodi High School students Nick Iturraran, right, and Garett Neuvert talk about the problem they where given during the Technical Drafting combination competition held at the SkillsUSA conference. Iturraran took 1st and Neuvert took 2nd. (Whitney Ramirez/News-Sentinel)

Local teens win big at 40th annual SkillsUSA conference

By Amanda Dyer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Friday, May 11, 2007 6:54 AM PDT

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When you walk into Paul Guthrie's classroom at Lodi High School, the first thing that catches your eye is the award wall.

Guthrie, who teaches architectural design and mechanical drafting at Lodi High, said he only puts his students' gold medals on the wall — not because the others aren't important, but because there just isn't enough room.

"If we did that, it would be pulling the sheetrock off the wall," Guthrie said.

Last month, Guthrie's students brought home even more medals from the 40th Annual SkillsUSA Championships in Riverside.

The conference, in which students compete in everything from fire technology to graphic communication, showcased the vocational talents of California's students from April 19-22.

Lodi High Junior Nick Iturraran, who won a gold medal in the technical drafting combination competition, will be the only student in Lodi Unified School District to attend the SkillsUSA National Skills Championships in June.

Lodi Unified medal winners from this year's SkillsUSA state championships

Lodi High School
Andrew Vergegaal: Bronze, Introductory A Drafting
Michael De Grandmont: Gold, Introductory B Drafting
Noel Casarin-Forrette: Bronze, Technical Drafting, Manual
Jennie Coughran: Technical Drafting, C.A.D.
Nick Iturraran: Gold, Technical Drafting, Combination
Garett Neuvert: Silver, Technical Drafting, Combination
Nick Powaser: Bronze, Architecture Drafting, Combination

Tokay High School
Christain Rebustillo: Gold, Architecture Drafting, Manual
Reyes Hernandez: Gold, Mechanical Drafting
Josh Longoria: Silver, Mechanical Drafting
Rachael Glick: Silver, Architecture Drafting, Manual
Laurie Purdy: Bronze, Architecture Drafting, Manual

Bear Creek High School
Thomas Hennig, Matt Horner, Sean O'Reilly, Nick Eldridge and Ben Warheit: Silver, Quiz Bowl
Ramon Alonso: Bronze, Introductory C.A.D.

Iturraran said he was excited to win, but expected fellow Lodi junior Garett Neuvert to beat him out. Neuvert, who took a silver medal in the same competition, said he wasn't too beaten up about coming in behind his classmate.

"If Nick starts his own company he's going to hire me," Neuvert said.

Both Iturraran and Neuvert said they hope to pursue engineering careers after they finish school.

Looking toward a future career is something that Guthrie takes pains to emphasize in his class. Each student makes a portfolio of his or her work, complete with a cover letter, resume and letters of recommendation.

"If we don't start training them now, what's it going to be like when they go out into the workplace?" Guthrie asked.

Guthrie credits much of the program's success to his predecessor Ted Heinrich, who now works at Lodi Technical Academy as a special projects coordinator and has taught for over 35 years.

Guthrie keeps Heinrich's picture posted on the classroom's clock to keep him on task.

"He's my friend and my mentor," Guthrie said.

Madilynn Farmer, a junior, said before Guthrie's class she had seen people mention resumes on television, but never really knew what one was.

Farmer would like to pursue forensic science in college, but plans to continue drafting on the side. She said the skills learned in Guthrie's class will give her an edge when she enters the workforce.

Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

brooke wrote on May 11, 2007 10:04 PM:

" good job nick! "

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Claudia wrote on May 11, 2007 3:38 PM:

" Nick, I am so proud of you! You continuously amaze me in everything you do. I know you'll do well at Nationals in Kansas City this June. Also, thanks to Mr. Guthrie for his direction and going above and beyond. "

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LC wrote on May 11, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Great, Great program and Mr Guthrie you should get an award for all the dedication and hard work you put into this program THANK YOU this is what the schools need more of and thanks LNS for finally putting something positive about our youth in the paper "

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