In April, 14 students from the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain (UARM) traveled to Hot Springs to compete in the state-level SkillsUSA Conference - an event that assesses students’ technical knowledge and skills in various fields, including but not limited to nursing, machining, and welding. Of the 14 students who competed, seven placed in the top ten in their respective events, three of whom earned gold.
Two UARM machine tool students and one concurrently enrolled high school student won gold in their events. In the college division for CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer competition, Robin Lehnerd earned top honors, while Solomon Parks earned first place in the CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer competition. In the high school division for Nurse Assisting, Lily Rowland - a senior at Mena High School - received the top award. All three competitors advance to the national championship next month in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to Lehnerd and Parks, UARM had two college-level competitors - Jordan Strickland competed in Welding, and Ethan York competed in Pipe Welding. Both earned placements in the top ten. Joining Rowland, the following students competed in the high school divisions: Damon Cruz, First Aid-CPR; Raegan Gates, Medical Math; Sholeyve Campuzano and Abigail Comeaux, both in Nurse Assisting; Landon Case, Zachariah Neugent, and Maya Santiago, all in Pipe Welding; and Cameron Bearden and Waylon Head, both in Welding. Two of these students finished in the top ten.
According to its website, “SkillsUSA is a national association dedicated to empowering high school, college, and middle school students as they prepare for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service fields, including health occupations.”
As gold medalists at the state competition, Lehnerd, Parks, and Rowland each received tuition waivers for one full year. These waivers can be used at any participating technical or community college in the state of Arkansas. Additionally, each received a $1000 institutional scholarship from UARM. As they prepare for nationals, their opportunities increase. Top earners at the national level may earn scholarships, tools of the trade, and job offers straight off the competition floor.
“Regardless of how things go in Atlanta, Robin and Solomon are both self-motivated, self-starters who will stay on top of learning the skills in their respective fields. I know they will be successful at whatever they decide to do from here,” said Machine Tool Instructor Jonathan Lunsford. “Being around healthcare, Lily was a natural. It came easily to her. She put in the work, and she knows what she’s doing. I look forward to seeing her pursue her passion for healthcare,” said CNA Instructor Minta Milam.
UARM offers concurrent credit programs to area high school students free of charge through its Career Center, made possible by institutional, state, and federal funding. “Students can earn a variety of industry credentials through our Career Center. They can pursue certifications in automotive, machine tool, welding, and a wide range of healthcare professions,” said Janet VanDeest, UARM’s Career Center Coordinator. Students interested in UARM’s Career Center offerings should visit with their high school counselors. Through programs such as these, the college honors its mission: UA Rich Mountain provides transformative education to all learners.