Recently, students across The Natural State competed in the SkillsUSA Arkansas event. SkillsUSA is a national membership association collaborating with middle and high school students, along with college students, who are preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Matthew Littell, a current student at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, earned Gold and was named the State Champion in the CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer competition. After winning Gold, Littell now has the opportunity to compete with students from all across the United States at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia in June.

UA Rich Mountain hasn’t had the opportunity to send a student to compete since COVID, but upon return to the competition, UARM found familiar success. In past competitions, instructor Jonathan Lunsford has coached several gold winners on the state level, including a student that placed third nationally in 2018. Lunsford commented on the success of UARM students, “It is a great opportunity for students to compete in Skills.  UARM is always a top competitor in the CNC competition, both on the state and national levels. Go Bucks!”

Lunsford and Littell will travel to Atlanta in June to represent UA Rich Mountain and the Machine Tool Program. The SkillsUSA competition will host over 6,500 competitors, competing in 115 diverse skill areas in Atlanta. The National Leadership & Skills Conference exists to bring together students, instructors, and business leaders to champion the achievements of students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.

SkillsUSA is more than a competition, U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona speaks to the need of such an event, “How do we build a better education system? I believe career and technical education and career and technical student organizations like SkillsUSA are an important part of the solution in our country. If we want to build an economy that works for all Americans, we must create more pathways to high skill, high paying jobs. That means helping more students experience the magic of CTE. Imagine a brighter future in which every student graduates with college credit, with career and college counseling, with experience in the workplace, and a chance to have earned an industry credential.”

The Machine Tool program at UA Rich Mountain creates a pathway for local students to gain experience on the computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines, which in turn supports and stimulates local economy.  Polk County has more machining jobs per capita than anywhere else in the state.  Local employers, Sterling, Brodix, and Nidec are the largest employers in the county and constantly need CNC Machine Operators, making the Machine Tool Program at UARM a great next step towards a fulfilling career.

For more information about our Machine Tool Technology program, email admissionsUARICHMOUNTAIN or call 479-394-7622.

UA Rich Mountain provides transformative education to all learners.