Escanaba, MI – Copper Country ISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technology students showcased their skills and leadership at the SkillsUSA competition held in Escanaba on Friday, February 7th. The students excelled in various categories, securing top spots in both Automotive Overall and Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) competitions.
The event brought together talented students from across the Upper Peninsula, providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise. In addition to the competitions, students participated in leadership training sessions designed to enhance their professional and technical skills.
Through dedication and hard work, the students demonstrated their skills by outperforming their peers in a highly competitive environment. Their achievements highlight the strength of their training and the commitment of both students and instructors to excellence in the field.
"I am proud of the effort of the students. They competed against their peers and showed what they can do," said David Narhi, CTE Automotive Technology Instructor.
The competition reinforced technical skills and emphasized teamwork, problem-solving, and professionalism - key attributes for success in the automotive industry. The success of these students serves as an inspiration for future participants and highlights the value of the CTE program.
With their impressive performance at SkillsUSA, these students have set a high standard for automotive technology programs across the region, demonstrating the value of hands-on learning and industry-relevant training.
In addition to a written test, the MLR competition then had two hands-on stations; one consisting of safety and various service points, while the other was a timed hands-on vehicle inspection. Students performed a new vehicle prep-inspection similar to what a technician would do at a dealership. Students were challenged to find any discrepancies and note all good and bad findings. In the automotive overall category students had six different timed hands-on stations; each involved parts identification, measurements, and diagnosis.
In the Automotive Overall competition, Seamus Kenny and Jake Elenich, both second-year students and seniors from Chassell High School, earned top placements. Jake secured second place, while Seamus took third place. Marjorie Miller, a first-year student and senior from Houghton High School, claimed first place in the competition.
“I am so glad I participated—and I had fun too,” said Marjorie.
In the Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) competition, Samantha Narhi, a second-year homeschool junior, secured third place.
“I surprised myself. It was fun and well organized,” Samantha shared.
Cara Keranen, a second-year student and juniorr from Lake Linden-Hubbell High School, edged out her classmate to take second place.
Some students may be eligible to continue competing at the state competition this April in Grand Rapids, MI.