Submitted by Heather Browne, Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Student Earns First Place at National SkillsUSA Competition

Fort Scott Community College student Dylan Giager recently earned first place in the carpentry division at the 53rd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Louisville, Ky.

In April, Giager won the Kansas SkillsUSA competition, which earned him the opportunity to compete at the national level against 26 state champion students from colleges across the United States.

In the months leading up to the national competition, Giager spent many hours practicing projects in the mornings before class and in the evenings. FSCC Carpentry Instructor Kim Coates provided Giager with a variety of plans to help him practice a range of techniques.

“I always say, practice doesn’t make perfect—perfect practice makes perfect. Students have to get each of the project steps just right, from reading the blueprints to making calculations to swinging their hammers,” said Coates. “I knew Dylan would do well because he does quality work and pays a lot of attention to detail.”

Once Giager perfected his building technique, he focused on improving the amount of time he spent completing the projects. All that hard work paid off, because he completed his project more than two hours early.

FSCC carpentry students have won first place at the national SkillsUSA competition for three years in a row. SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations. SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national competitions in which students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills.

For more information about the FSCC Construction Trades program, please contact Judy Meister, FSCC Occupational Recruiter, at 620-223-2700, ext. 5247.

FSCC Presents Kids’ College and Leadership Academy

Fort Scott Community College will host two day camps for area students in July. The FSCC Leadership Academy, designed for students ages 14-18, will be held on Tuesday, July 25. FSCC Kids’ College, designed for students ages 7-14, will take place on Wednesday, July 26. Both camps will be held at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Each camp will offer leadership activities and three college-style courses taught by FSCC faculty and members of the community. The cost per student is $10 and lunch is included.

Parents may register their students at 8:30 a.m. at the door on the day of the event. The Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center is located at 2108 South Horton in Fort Scott, Kan.

To view the course schedule, visit fortscott.edu/kidscollege17. For more information, please call Heather Browne, FSCC Director of Public Relations, at 620-223-2700, ext. 5248.