Aims Community College automotive students from the Windsor, CO, campus showcased their technical expertise at the SkillsUSA Regional Championship, with seven competitors advancing to the state competition in April.
The competition, judged by industry professionals from Denver, CO, Cheyenne, WY, and Northern Colorado, evaluated students on their proficiency in collision repair, refinishing and damage appraisal -- critical skills required for employment in the automotive industry.
“The judges are looking to see how the student performs tasks and their proficiency in performing them,” said Mike Hanscome, an Aims automotive instructor and SkillsUSA team advisor. “These competencies are what the industry deems necessary for a student to get a job.”
Held at Aims’ Automotive and Technology Center in Windsor, the competition tested students’ hands-on abilities before they moved on to a second round at Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, CO. A total of 10 Aims students participated, with seven securing top placements to move forward in the SkillsUSA competition’s secondary high school and post-secondary college divisions.
In the post-secondary collision repair category, Mario Saenz claimed first place, followed by Javier Rascon in second and Logan Stahl in third. In refinishing, Jesse Manuel secured first place, with Teagan Quinby and Israel Arteaga finishing second and third, respectively. In the damage appraisal division, Cloud Kline earned the top spot.
The students will compete next at the Colorado Leadership and Skills Conference, held April 9-11, where top finishers will have a chance to qualify for the national competition in June in Atlanta, GA.
“Participation in this competition is about students investing in themselves and their futures because this is an extracurricular event,” Hanscome said. “They’ve chosen to do this, and the instructors have chosen to give time to help these students.”
Aims Community College has participated in SkillsUSA for 13 years, earning 15 national podium finishes and nine national championships. The college’s automotive programs are nationally recognized and accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), offering training in both secondary and post-secondary education.
