Dallas Bekkala, a junior homeschool student in the Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCISD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technology program enrolled through the Public Schools of CLK - U.P. Virtual Academy (UPVA), put his exceptional knowledge and skills on display by winning first place in the Automotive Service Technology Division of the Michigan SkillsUSA competition in Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 18th.
This impressive achievement marks the third consecutive year that a CCISD CTE student has claimed the state title. CCISD CTE Auto Tech Instructor David Narhi credits the program's structure and the students' dedication for this ongoing success.
"The expectation is there; the students have the opportunity to take it as far as they want to," said Narhi. "The standard is there, the rigor is there, and if the students are willing to take it, they are able to; they have doors of opportunity presented in front of themselves".
During the competition, Bekkala completed a series of 20-minute skills tests evaluating various technical competencies, ranging from tool identification to diagnosing vehicle issues and determining appropriate solutions. Competitors were actively assessed throughout each station, with winners announced only at the conclusion of the event.
"You didn't really get feedback, but I kind of felt like I was doing okay in just about all of them as I was doing them," Bekkala said.
The tension was high during the awards ceremony, as the top three placing individuals were called up on stage without knowing their final standings. Event organizers intentionally left the final placements a secret until the very end. When the results were revealed, Bekkala admitted it was unexpected. "I was a little surprised. I'm very surprised. It was pretty cool," he said.
Following his state victory, Bekkala will advance to the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, where he will now represent not only the Copper Country and the UP, but also Michigan as the overall state winner. The national competition promises to be a significantly tougher test, pitting him against the top 50 auto tech students representing each of their home states from across the nation. Competitors will navigate a total of 15 demanding stations during a long day running from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where they will be put "through the ringer".
To prepare for the next level, Bekkala has a straightforward plan. "I'm just going to continue to study as much as I can between now and then," he noted.
As a high school junior, Bekkala still has time to map out his exact long-term career goals after graduation. However, he knows he enjoys the automotive field and recognizes that there are many distinct opportunities within the industry for him to explore.
The state-approved CTE Automotive Technology program at the Copper Country ISD Career Tech Center in Hancock is available to interested high school students coming through any of the local school districts within Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties. The program introduces and prepares students to explore and receive training in the automotive field through a comprehensive curriculum including an introduction to automotive technology skills such as front-end alignment, engine diagnosis, electrical systems, suspension, brakes, and more.