Mid-America Technology Center (MATC) students demonstrated outstanding talent and skill at the 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. Among the many competitors from across the nation, MATC students stood out, bringing home medals in two key categories.
Mid-America Technology Center students Eli Conner, Isaac Estepp, and Matthew Henderson worked on a capstone project in their Pre-Engineering program in the spring of their senior year. This project required them to solve a real-world problem utilizing the engineering process.
The problem they chose to solve was the slow time to secure classroom doors during an emergency. Their solution was a quick locking mechanism for a classroom door called a “Swift-Latch.” After many modifications, they presented their finished product and competed at the Oklahoma SkillsUSA state conference, winning gold and qualifying for nationals.
In late June, they headed to Atlanta for a multi-day competition that showcased their efforts and product design. The team won gold in Engineering Technology and Design and was acknowledged as the best high school team in the nation. As they prepare to enter college engineering programs across the state, they hope also to bring their product to schools nationwide to secure the next generation of American students. Their project, Swift-Latch, impressed the judges with its ingenuity and practical application. During their presentation, the students are judged on their performance as a professional team, their presentation of their project to a panel of judges from the engineering field, their storyboard presentation model, and the overall effect of the presentation.
Dusti Grossnicklaus, a recent graduate of the MATC Horticulture program, showcased her exceptional oratory skills by securing the silver medal in the highly competitive Extemporaneous Speaking event. This event requires competitors to give a three- to five-minute speech on an assigned topic. Competitors enter the preparation area one at a time, where they are given a speech topic, and have five minutes of preparation time before facing the judges and speaking on the subject.
Grossnicklaus’s ability to think on her feet, eloquence, and clarity earned her this prestigious accolade. All contestants are judged on voice, mechanics, platform deportment, organization, and effectiveness. Her performance is a testament to her strong communication skills, dedication, and talent.
The success of Conner, Estepp, Henderson, and Grossnicklaus at the SkillsUSA conference reflects MATC’s commitment to excellence by providing high-quality programs that prepare students for successful careers in their chosen fields. These achievements are a source of pride and underscores MATC’s role in shaping the future workforce.
