HANCOCK, MI — Returning to the auto tech shop following a standout performance on the national stage, Copper Country Intermediate School District (ISD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technology student Dallas Bekkala is utilizing his final months in the program to refine his mechanical skills before heading off to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Bekkala, a senior homeschool student attending through the U.P. Virtual Academy (UPVA), represented Michigan this summer at the SkillsUSA National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, where he placed 4th in the nation in the Automotive Service Technology Division.
The national competition brought together the top 50 auto tech students across the country for an intensive evaluation. Held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, the competition required students to complete complex hands-on stations evaluating high-level skills, including electrical diagnosis, disassembling and reassembling manual transmission clutch packs, and analyzing automatic transmission gear sets.
"Nationals were just like states were to regionals, bigger, nicer vehicles, and just more in-depth," Bekkala said about the pressure of the experience. "Every single time, regionals, states, nationals, the first station I did, I've always bombed out on. I've never done well on the first one. But then after that, I pick up and I'm doing good".
Despite the high-pressure environment and tough ASE-style written examinations, Bekkala stayed composed throughout the grueling event. His consistency across the stations earned him a 4th-place finish nationwide, announced during the formal awards ceremony held inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"I knew I would probably get in the top 10," Bekkala said. "It turns out I got fourth. That's so close... it was an experience that I’m so glad I had".
With the national competition behind him, Bekkala is focusing his energy on the upcoming school year and his future career goals. Rather than competing in SkillsUSA for another cycle, he is preparing for an early departure to ship out for the U.S. Marine Corps, with a target date as early as January.
Bekkala plans to join the Marine Corps Reserves, where he will apply his passion for mechanics as a Motor Transport Technician. Before he ships out, he aims to maximize his remaining time in the Copper Country ISD’s CTE Auto Tech program.
"I'm seeing [the course] through to finish up," Bekkala noted regarding his final semester goals. "I guess I don't know as much about transmissions as I would like to, so I'm looking forward to learning more about that before I leave".
Bekkala's rapid ascent from regional competitor to state champion to 4th in the nation shows both his personal drive and the strength of the CTE Automotive Technology curriculum and instructional staff.
About the Copper Country ISD CTE Auto Tech Program:
The state-approved CTE Automotive Technology program operates at the Copper Country ISD Career Tech Center in Hancock. Students enrolled in the program represent all local high schools, including homeschooled students, from across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties. The program prepares students with a comprehensive two-year curriculum that covers an introduction to essential automotive skills, including:
Brakes
Steering and Suspension
Electrical and Electronic Systems
Engine Repair
Engine Performance
Automatic Transmission and Transaxle
Manual Transmissions, Transaxles, and Drivetrain
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)