Two FSDB students win state medals for job skills

Historic City News has learned that, of the more than 2,000 high school and college participants competing in more than 110 vocational field categories, two students from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind earned medals for their technical skills at the SkillsUSA state competition.

The nationally recognized program serves as a partnership between students, teachers and industry to ensure that America has a skilled workforce by providing quality education experiences set by industry standards. The event was hosted by Pensacola State College.

Christopher Thompson won gold in the Job Skill Technology category and will advance to the National SkillsUSA event in Kansas City, Mo, June 23-27.

Marlon Ochoa-Jamies garnered silver in the Job Skill Technology category.

Thompson and Ochoa-Jamies, both seniors, are FSDB students enrolled in the First Coast Technical College Gasoline Engine Service Technology program led by instructor Charles Ballard.

During the state competition, Thompson and Ochoa-Jamies entered the Jobs Demonstration Open category. Thompson demonstrated preventative maintenance on a four-stroke lawn mower engine. Ochoa-Jamies demonstrated his skills on a two-stroke weed-eater engine.

Over the past three years, FSDB students have earned five medals at regional competitions and three at the state level.

More than 5,400 outstanding career and technical education students will compete hands-on in more than 90 trade, technical and leadership fields during the national competition.