Ogeechee Tech Students Earn Gold and Silver Medals at State SkillsUSA Competition

The Ogeechee Technical College SkillsUSA team won three gold medals and a silver medal at the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, March 9-11.

Ogeechee Technical College competed in four categories winning gold medals in Cybersecurity, Early Childhood, and Career Pathways – Industrial & Engineering Technology, and earned a silver medal in Quiz Bowl. Justin Clenny and Dalton Flanders, students in OTC’s Cybersecurity program, became the first members to win a gold medal in that category in only the second year competing in that category.

“This medal is more to me than just a trophy. This medal exemplifies the hard work that everyone at Ogeechee Tech puts forth,” said Clenny. “I would like to give a special thanks to all the instructors here who helped instill the knowledge in me that has brought me so far.”

Clenny added to his hardware as he brought home a bronze medal in last year’s Cybersecurity competition.

“I’m so proud of all of our SkillsUSA students, it was an amazing weekend for OTC,” said Terry Hand, OTC’s Cybersecurity instructor. “I do not have the words to express how truly happy I am for our students; they are the best of the best and the reason why I love coming to work every day.”

The students who competed at the conference also had the opportunity to prepare resumes, network, and take exams as part of the experience said Chuck Davis, OTC’s SkillsUSA Lead Advisor.

“The conference is more than just a competition, it gives our students an opportunity to really break out of their shells and develop soft skills that will help them in their future careers,” said Davis.

By earning gold medals, the Cybersecurity, Early Childhood, and Career Pathways teams will have the opportunity to compete in the national conference in Atlanta in June.

Participants on this year’s Skills USA team included:
Quiz Bowl (Terry Hand – Advisor)
• Richard Fountain
• Patrick Lewis
• Cierra Elliott
• Jacob Flannery
• Christopher Balaban
• Gabe Womack
• Branden Browder
Cybersecurity (Terry Hand – Advisor)
• Justin Clenny
• Dalton Flanders
Early Childhood Care & Education (Paula Clifton – Advisor)
• Bethea Gregory
Career Pathways (Jeffry Roberson – Advisor)
• Tony Hernandez
• Adair Baltazar Montoya
• Justin Hall

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